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पत्रकारका लागि नेपाल नवौं खतरापूर्ण देश, भारत चौंथो स्थानमा
विश्वभर ३२ मुलुकका ९५ जना पत्रकारहरुको हत्या

काठमाण्डौं, December 22, 2008- शान्ति प्रकृयामा रहेपनि पत्रकारहरुका लागि नेपाल अझै विश्वको नवौं खतराको सूचीमा रहेको देशको रुपमा दर्ज भएको छ । 'प्रेस इम्बेल्म क्याम्पेन' नामक संस्थाले नेपाललाई विश्वका नवौं खतराको सूचिमा रहेको देशको रुपमा राखेको हो ।

यो संस्थाको कार्यालय स्वीट्जरलैण्डको जेनेभामा रहेको छ ।

सो संस्थाले सर्वाधिक खतराजनक मुलुकको रुपमा इराकलाई राखेको छ जहाँ सन् २००८ मा १५ जना पत्रकारहरुको हत्या भएको विवरण सो संस्थाले दिएको छ । दोश्रो स्थानमा ९ जना पत्रकारको हत्यासहित अमेरिकाको छिमेकी मुलुक मेक्सिको रहेको छ । तेश्रो खतराजनक मुलुक पाकिस्तानमा ८ जना पत्रकारको हत्या भएको छ भने चौंथो स्थानको भारतमा ७ जना पत्रकार यो बर्ष मारिएका छन् ।

पाँचौं स्थानमा फिलिपिन्स, छैठौं स्थानमा जर्जिया, सातौ स्थानमा रसिया, आठौं स्थानमा थाइलैन्ड रहेको छ।

नवौं खतराको सूचिमा रहेका देशहरुमा दक्षिण अफगानिस्तान, कोलम्बिया, कंगो, नेपाल, नाइजेरिया, सोमालिया, श्रीलङ्का, भेनेजुएला छन् ।

यो बर्ष ३२ मुलुकका ९५ जना पत्रकारहरुको हत्या भएको दावी संस्थाको छ ।

-Sitaram Baral in Kathmandu

PRESS EMBLEM CAMPAIGN (PEC) Report for 2008
95 journalists killed in one year in 32 countries

Geneva, 15 December (PEC) During the past year, ninety-five journalists* in 32 countries paid with their lives for exercising their profession, according to the 2008 Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) report published Monday. This figure is lower than the record 115 journalists killed last year, but this drop of 17.5% is due solely to an improvement in security in Iraq.

On average, nearly two journalists were killed every week in the course of the last three years (96 in 2006; 115 in 2007; 95 in 2008). Many others were injured, kidnapped, threatened, imprisoned or unable to express themselves freely (notably in Burma, China, Zimbabwe and Eritrea).

“The security of media employees has become an overall problem,” pointed out Hedayat Abdel Nabi, president of the PEC. “Sixty years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the violations of press freedom are widespread in several regions of the world,” she emphasized.

“On the positive side, the number of journalists killed in Iraq has greatly declined, owing to the relative improvement in security in this country. Unfortunately, the situation has deteriorated in other countries, a disturbing development,” explained the PEC general secretary, Blaise Lempen.

The PEC’s “Media Ticking Clock” shows a deterioration in several countries in 2008: Mexico, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Russia, Philippines, Georgia and Croatia. Besides Iraq, a (precarious) improvement has been reported in Somalia (two killed, as opposed to eight in 2007) and in Sri Lanka (two killed as opposed to seven last year).

Iraq has remained in 2008 the most dangerous country, with 15 deaths since January. This is, however, significantly lower than the 50 journalists killed in 2007 (a drop of 70% in the number of victims) and the 48 killed in 2006. Since the beginning of the war in March 2003, at least 265 journalists have perished in this country.

The crime wave has swelled in Mexico. With nine victims since January (as opposed to three last year), Mexico is the second most dangerous country in the world this year.

The deterioration is also stark in Pakistan, in third place, with eight journalists (as opposed to five last year). The situation has noticeably deteriorated in the tribal zones near the Afghan border.

India follows, in fourth place, with seven journalists killed (two last year), especially in relation to the ethnic conflicts in the north of the country. Then comes Philippines (fifth place), with six journalists killed (as opposed to four last year), particularly because of the conflict on the island of Mindanao, then Georgia (sixth place, five killed), because of war with Russia in August.

mong the ten most dangerous countries are Russia (four killed, one last year), mainly murders linked to the conflicts in the Caucasus, then, new this year, Thailand (in eighth place with four killed, none last year).

Two victims have been reported in nine other countries, putting them all in ninth place: Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and – a country appearing on the list for the first time since 1995 – Croatia.

One victim was also reported in each of the following countries in 2008: Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gaza, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Kenya, Niger, Panama, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Main Conclusions

- The report shows that the relative improvement in security in Iraq has, unfortunately, been compensated for by a deterioration in several other countries. The figure of 95 killed in one year is practically the same as the 2006 figure, in spite of a net drop in the number of victims in Iraq.

- Besides murders, many kidnappings took place this year, notably in Afghanistan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Gaza and Mexico. While Somalia has experienced fewer murders than last year (two as opposed to eight), several journalists were taken hostage.

- The majority of victims (almost three-quarters) were in zones of armed conflict. Among the most dangerous countries, Mexico and Thailand were exceptions, for there is no armed conflict in these countries.

- Considered by region, the final figures are somewhat surprising. Asia is in the lead, with four countries among the eight most dangerous (a total of 30 killed in seven countries: Pakistan, India, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia) ahead of Latin America (20 killed: Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, Honduras, Brazil, Dominican Republic), then the Near East (19 killed: Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Gaza). Europe follows, this year, for the first time in a long time, with a relatively high number of victims (11 killed: Georgia, Croatia, Russia), ahead of Africa (10 killed: Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Niger, Burundi, Kenya, Zimbabwe).

- The great majority of journalists killed were personally targeted because of their profession. There were deliberate killings aiming to eliminate individuals owing to their investigations or opinions running counter to those of armed groups, political groups criminal networks or local interests. Accidental causes (for example death during a terrorist explosion or from a stray bullet) represented, this year, about 10% of the total.

- Impunity remains the rule. When investigations take place, they are difficult to carry out in conflict zones, trails are long and drawn out or simply do not correspond to criteria of impartiality. (A good example is the trail of the alleged killers of Anna Politkovskaïa in Russia.)

- The consultation undertaken by the PEC has resulted in the setting up of an informal working group in Geneva, entrusted with discussing the means for reinforcing the protection of media in areas of conflict and violence. Few governments have expressed support for a new international convention, as proposed by the PEC during a consultation launched one year ago. However, most of the countries that have expressed an opinion said that there is a need to enforce better existing laws.

The PEC will continue its discussions with governments throughout 2009 in order to arrive at an improvement in the security of journalists in areas shaken by crises and violence. It hopes that the Human Rights Council will be able to adopt a strong resolution next year on the respect of freedom of expression.

Note that the one year period is from December 15th 2007 to December 14th 2008.

This press release is originally appeared at: http://www.pressemblem.ch/10399.html

तपाईंको भनाइ लेखी छाड्‍न र अरुको भनाइ पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्
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