Increase in the number of journalists killed

Increase in the number of journalists killed during the first 6 months to 53 as compared to 45 during the same period in 2008

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed grave concern over the disclosure of Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) that "the number of journalists killed during the first six months of 2009 had increased. From January to June, 53 journalists in 18 countries have been killed as compared to 45 journalists during the same period in 2008."
In a media report issued here on Friday, the PFUJ said that the sad aspect is that the " PEC notes that Pakistan is the most dangerous country for media work so far this year with 6 journalists killed, followed by Iraq: 5, Mexico: 5, Philippines: 5 and Somalia: 5.""Gaza and Russia share the 6th place with 4 journalists killed in each country. Three journalists were killed in Colombia, 2 in Afghanistan, Guatemala, Honduras, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.". According to the PFUJ, the PEC Secretary-General Blaise Lempen said that "the increase in the current tally reflects the humanitarian crisis during the reporting period due to conflicts in Gaza, Somalia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Lempen added that in other countries where open conflict is absent like Mexico, the Philippines and Russia violence against journalists became an endemic feature".."PEC President Hedayat Abdel Nabi noted that this rise in the media tsunami reflects negatively on objective reporting and kills the chances of unveiling the truth to the world. Abdel Nabi added that though a body is in place to look into gross human rights violations, the UN Human Rights Council, it stands impotent when the issue comes to the protection of journalists". Ticking Clock, one journalist was killed in India, Indonesia, Kenya and Madagascar." "In addition targeted killings of journalists have not stopped during the first two weeks of July with six additional deaths among journalists: 2 in Honduras, one in Kyrgyzstan, 2 in Mexico and one in Russia where the militant journalist, human rights defender Natalya Estemirova has been killed on 15 July in Grozny.""The post presidential election unrest in Iran was another worrying situation impacting negatively on freedom of opinion and expression where not less than 40 journalists were arrested."In July, Al-Jazeera Satellite network was banned from operations in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) by the Palestinian Authority over a controversial report on an internal power struggle. This development is highly condemned and the PEC is pleased to note that the banning of Al- Jazeera from covering the events in the oPt did not last except for a few days."The PEC announcing the tally of media victims in 6 months call upon all UN member states, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to take positive steps to stop this bloodbath against journalists with appropriate measures".PFUJ fully endorsed the demand of the PEC and added that the media persons in Pakistan were working in very hostile environment, being neither provided capacity training for reporting in "war ridden areas", nor the security gadgets, security jackets, life insurances, and not even paid wages commensurate
with newspaper employees wage board award.

So much so that in Swat and other areas where a number of newspapers had to suspend publication due to war conditions, which resoled in throwing media persons out of jobs. The situation which is very alarming needs special attention to be paid to the miserable plight of the Pakistani media persons.

Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.pfuj.info
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com