| 121 journalists killed representing an increase of 33 percent over 2008 |
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05/01/2010 14:46 (866 Day 20:47 minutes ago) | |||||
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(Press-Release via Finchannel.com) GENEVA - The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) in its annual report announced on January 5 that 121 journalists were killed in 2009 in 25 countries, an increase of 33 percent over the numbers of 2008, a dark year described by the PEC.
On the 31st of December 2009, the last casualty fell in Afghanistan, Ms. Lang -- a Calgary Herald health reporter who had volunteered for a six-week assignment in Afghanistan for Canwest News Service -- was struck by a powerful, improvised bomb that had been buried by insurgents.
PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen said that on average 10 journalists were killed per month by armed groups, criminal groups, governments and in terrorist acts. He added, while presenting the report, that others were kidnapped or exiled and in many cases silenced while impunity continues.
In conflict zones journalists face great difficulties in accessing information and in some cases it becomes impossible in places like Gaza, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Chad and the Caucuses.
In 2008 the number of journalists killed stood at 91, in 2007 the figure stood at 117, while 96 were killed in 2006. Six countries represent two thirds of the casualties in 2009, a total of 81 journalists out of 121.
2009 was marked by the single worst massacre of journalists in history when on 23 November 2009 an electoral convoy in the Philippines including journalists was attacked, 31 journalists were killed. In the Philippines alone the total of journalists killed rose with this massacre to 38, the Philippines leads the world in media casualties.
No progress has occurred in Mexico which witnessed the loss of 13 journalists in the battle against drugs and trafficking.
Somalia came third in rank as the most dangerous country, 9 journalists were killed many others were kidnapped for long periods by Islamic militias, in the cross fire as well as due to terrorist attacks.
The situation in North-West Pakistan continues to deteriorate due to the continued conflict between radical Islamic groups and the Pakistani government, which resulted in the killing of 8 journalists and thus placing Pakistan in 4th place.
Russia came 5th in line as the most dangerous country with 7 journalists killed mostly related to the conflict in the Caucuses.
Improvements continue in Iraq; however the death of 6 journalists there keeps Iraq in the list of the most dangerous countries for media work.
Afghanistan, Columbia follow with 5 journalists killed in each country, followed by Honduras 4 journalists killed and then Gaza another four.
At the 11th place comes Kyrgyzstan with 3 journalists killed in an atmosphere of systematic repression.
Two journalists were killed in Guatemala, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and one in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Salvador, and Turkey.
The Geneva based NGO denounced the detention of at least 150 journalists worldwide without due process, and those detained in Iran during the recent unrest in strange circumstances, and called for their release.
Lempen commented by saying that the freedom of expression is at risk due to the continued conflicts, radicalization of groups, escalation of terrorist acts, in addition, he said the suppression of thousands of jobs in the media because of the financial crisis adds to this deteriorating climate. Never before, said Lempen, was the insecurity so profound in the media community.
PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi announced that the PEC and the International Covenant for the Protection of Journalists (ICPJ) will relaunch their call to UN member states in the Human Rights Council to convene a special event in the Council on the issue of the protection of journalists and major risks facing the profession because of growing and mutating threats.
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