(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 24 March 2002 WAN press release: Bogota, Colombia, 24 March 2002 For immediate release Media Condemn Colombian Terrorism More than 200 publishers, journalists and free press advocates from 15 countries, meeting in Bogota, Colombia, have condemned “without reservation” the “outrageous and cowardly” attacks on the media by Colombian criminals […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 24 March 2002 WAN press release:
Bogota, Colombia, 24 March 2002
For immediate release
Media Condemn Colombian Terrorism
More than 200 publishers, journalists and free press advocates from 15 countries, meeting in Bogota, Colombia, have condemned “without reservation” the “outrageous and cowardly” attacks on the media by Colombian criminals and terrorists.
In a resolution, they stated that “in a period of unprecedented terror against humanity, it is more urgent than ever to stand resolute against, and to condemn, every single violation of the fundamental, democratic principles which govern the civilised world.”
The resolution said:
“Freedom of expression and the right to be informed are basic conditions for any society to be defined as democratic. Any threat to these fundamental rights seriously damages society and endangers democracy.
“Media professionals working to maintain these principles have the right to carry out their duties safely and freely without the risk of being threatened, harassed or attacked.
“In Colombia, paramilitary and criminal organisations have made media and their staff a target for violent attacks. Thus freedom of expression and of the press is seriously limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, pressure, intimidation, destruction of printing and broadcast facilities, and violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators.
“In order to confront this challenge, the World Association of Newspapers, the World Editors Forum, the Colombian Newspaper Publishers Association, Andiarios, together with the Inter-American Press Association, UNESCO and the International Media Support Fund organised the conference – Media in Danger – taking place in Bogotà 22-23 March 2002, gathering more than 200 media professionals from 15 countries.
“The Conference condemns without reservation the outrageous and cowardly attacks on the free press and calls on the authorities, police and security forces to do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators.
“The Conference underlines the importance of national and international attention to the plight of the Colombian press in the face of murders and kidnappings.
“The Conference urges initiatives to advance efforts to protect media professionals, including the reinforcement of the Colombian press freedom organisations.
“On behalf of the world newspaper community, we the participants also express our total solidarity with journalists and media in Colombia in their dangerous and courageous work and their refusal to be held hostage to threats and violence.
“The participants of the Conference strongly encourage all democratic political parties in Colombia to denounce without reserve all forms of violence and intimidation of the press and to refrain from any speech or writing that incites hatred or violence against media.
“In a period of unprecedented terror against humanity, it is more urgent than ever to stand resolute against, and to condemn, every single violation of the fundamental, democratic principles which govern the civilised world. That has been the aim of this conference.”
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 71 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 100 countries, 13 news agencies and seven regional and world-wide press groups.
The WEF is the division of WAN that represents senior news executives.
