Geneva: While Afghanistan and Mexico remain the most dangerous countries for working journalists, a statement of Cambodian civil society organizations (CSO) on the occasion of ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ ( November 2, 2021) has revealed that the tiny nation has lost at least 17 journalists to assailants since 1994, where the scribes were targeted mostly because of their works. Shockingly, perpetrators in 12 cases are yet to be brought to justice. Moreover, the incidents of persecution against journalists are also increasing while over 80 media persons were targeted in 2021 till date. Among them over 30 were arrested, 20 subjected to violence, 8 faced judicial harassment, etc.
Philippines in the south-east Asian region has emerged as another risky nation for journalists, where most of the killers go unpunished. The island nation lost three media persons namely Renante Rey Cortes (killed on July 22, 2021 ), Gwenn Salamida (August 17 ) and Orlando Dinoy (October 30 ) to assailants this year.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) again voiced its concern over the plight of dozens of journalists detained in the country, nine months after the military seized control over the democratically-elected Government.
At least 126 journalists have been arrested in Myanmar since the February 1, 2021 military coup, while at least 47 journalists, including seven women, remain under detention, according to UNESCO.
Nine media outlets have had their licenses revoked. Since February 1, 20 independent media outlets have suspended operations, while four media outlets have been charged and nine newsrooms have been raided. Dozens of journalists remain in hiding due to outstanding arrest warrants in Myanmar.
UNESCO says that threats of violence and attacks against journalists in Myanmar have created a climate of fear for media professionals, impeding the free circulation of information, opinions and ideas for all.
PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria said that the media fraternity continues to face harassments from various agencies in the region, especially in Myanmar (Burma).
In a message yesterday, the United Nations Secretary‑General Antònio Guterres noted that while many journalists lost their lives while covering conflict, but in recent years, the number of media workers killed outside conflict zones had risen.
Press Emblem Campaign, the global safety and media rights body, while endorsing the Cambodian CSOs’statement today, asked for ensuring safety and security to all working journalists in the south-east Asian country and urged the Cambodian government in Phnom Penh to allow the media persons to perform their duties without any fear and trepidations.
Crimes against journalists are egregious and constitute a real threat. When they are targeted for their works, the freedom of expression is undermined. With more to it, if the concerned authority fails to investigate and punish the culprits against journalists, it sends a wrong message to the society, asserted the statement endorsed by Cambodian Association for Protection of Journalists, Cambodian Center for Independent Media, Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association, Cambodian Center for Human Rights, etc.
The UN Secretary‑General urged the UN Member States and the international community to stand in solidarity with journalists around the world today and every day, and to demonstrate the political will needed to investigate and prosecute crimes against journalists and media workers with the full force of the law.
Days back, the PEC raised the demand for justice to all victim journalists around the world and opined that observation on the journo-impunity day would be fruitful only if the culprits, who killed, abused or threatened media persons, are booked under the law of respective nations. Till date, not less than 66 journalists (2 more than last year in 10 months) have been killed this year across the world.
“There is no progress for the safety of media workers and often the assassins of journalists get away with murders. No crime should go unpunished, particularly in case of sentinels of the society,” said PEC secretary-general Blaise Lempen, adding that no one has been held to account in 81% of journalist murders during the last 10 years. The United Nations had already urged member countries to implement definite measures countering the culture of impunity and promote a safe environment for scribes, stated Lempen.
– global bihari bureau
