(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 December 1998 IFJ/IPI joint press release: Media Release IFJ and IPI Condemn Killings of Journalists in 1998 The International Federation of Journalists today released its annual list of journalists and mediaworkers killed in 1998. The IFJ and the International Press Institute, which publishes the same list, jointly condemn […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 December 1998 IFJ/IPI joint press
release:
Media Release
IFJ and IPI Condemn Killings of Journalists in 1998
The International Federation of Journalists today released its annual list
of journalists and mediaworkers killed in 1998. The IFJ and the
International Press Institute, which publishes the same list, jointly
condemn the 50 killings and call on governments to accept their
responsibility for investigating and prosecuting these crimes.
“Nowadays, in certain countries, it seems to be accepted that if you kill a
journalist you won’t get caught” said Aidan White, General Secretary of the
IFJ.
“Sometimes killings are not regarded as a priority and low grade officers
are assigned to the investigations, in other instances vested interests
ensure that investigations are slow and inefficient. Whatever the reason,
there is a lack of commitment to prosecuting those responsible”.
“When a journalist is killed it is an attack against the entire population,
not simply an individual. Whoever can silence the journalist can silence all
citizens” stated Mr White.
“Journalists are killed to blindfold the public. And too often, in too many
countries, the assassins go unpunished. Beyond the obvious responsibility of
governments to ensure justice, there is an urgent need for all newspapers
and media networks to report prominently on the murders. said Johann P.
Fritz, Director of the International Press
Institute (IPI).
“Journalists are murdered to curb the flow of embarrassing information. It
is crucial for the media to publicise the assassinations so that the
perpetrators will quickly find they are getting more rather than less public
attention,” he said.
The IFJ’s report lists 30 journalists and 1 mediaworker as having been
killed as a result of their work, and details 19 cases as under
investigation.
Full copies of the report are available from the IFJ Secretariat on: +32 2
223 22 65 and on the IFJ Website at
http://www.ifj.org/download/killed98.html.
