(IFEX-TMG) – The following is an 8 May 2005 press release by members of the IFEX-TMG: On behalf of the members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange – Tunisia Monitoring Group, Tunis World Press Freedom Day, 5-8 May 2005 Four groups from the 13-member Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) – Index on Censorship, the International […]
(IFEX-TMG) – The following is an 8 May 2005 press release by members of the IFEX-TMG:
On behalf of the members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange – Tunisia Monitoring Group, Tunis
World Press Freedom Day, 5-8 May 2005
Four groups from the 13-member Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) – Index on Censorship, the International Publishers’ Association, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and the World Press Freedom Committee – came to Tunis on 5-8 May to present the Arabic edition of the TMG’s recent report on freedom of expression in the country to Tunisian groups.
The TMG welcomes the opening of a constructive dialogue with the Tunisian government to support the establishment of lasting freedom of expression in Tunisia before and after the opening of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in November 2005.
The TMG and key international observers remain concerned that standards of human rights in Tunisia may yet compromise the effectiveness and credibility of the summit. The Tunisian authorities have failed to take effective action against abuses of human rights and free expression – as urged by the TMG in its report, Tunisia: Freedom of Expression under Siege.
Senior Tunisian officials maintain that a young and evolving democracy such as theirs needs time to introduce a full range of human rights.
The TMG believes that unless the Tunisian government makes substantive progress in granting free expression rights at home, questions will continue to be asked worldwide whether Tunis is the appropriate venue for the WSIS, given the importance of free expression to WSIS objectives.
During their visit and in the days preceding their arrival, the TMG, which acts under the umbrella of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) observed or received credible reports of:
– Imprisonment of individuals related to expression of their opinions or media activities.
– Obstruction of websites, including news and information websites.
– Obstruction of the import or distribution of books and publications.
– Obstruction of peaceful public assembly.
– Police surveillance, harassment, intimidation and interception of communications.
– Press censorship and lack of diversity of content in newspapers.
All these problems were highlighted by the TMG’s report, which has been strongly refuted by the Tunisian authorities.
The TMG looks forward to continuing a constructive dialogue with the Tunisian authorities, and to the day when Tunisia meets international standards of freedom of expression and other human rights, as enshrined by international conventions to which it is a party.
Tunisia is also urged to accept a pending request from Mr Ambeyi Ligabo, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, to visit Tunisia as soon as possible. Secondly, Tunisia should implement its commitments under the EU European Neighbourhood Plan to create a human rights sub-committee which should meet before the end of 2005.
8 May 2005
The TMG team in Tunis comprised: Alexis Krikorian, International Publishers’ Association (IPA), Switzerland; Mark Bench, World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC), USA; Francesco Diasio, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), Canada; Rohan Jayasekera, Index on Censorship, UK.
IFEX-TMG Members:
ARTICLE 19, UK
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), Nepal
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR)
Index on Censorship, UK
International Publishers’ Association (IPA), Switzerland
Journaliste en Danger (JED), Democratic Republic of Congo
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Namibia
Norwegian PEN
Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC), UK
World Association of Newspapers (WAN), France
World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC), USA
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
