12 July 2005
2005 TURNING INTO DEADLY YEAR FOR JOURNALISTS: IPI
Forty journalists have been killed world-wide in the first six months of 2005, one-quarter of them in Iraq, according to a new report by the International Press Institute (IPI). The IPI Death Watch reveals that the death toll in 2005 could equal or surpass last year's total of 78 murders, which was the highest since 1999.
"2005 is turning out to be another deadly year for journalists", says IPI. The common thread running through the deaths is the impunity surrounding attacks on journalists. Most of the journalists killed were targeted for investigating corruption, drug trafficking and other illegal activities. All too often, there is little or no evidence to suggest that the authorities are taking decisive action to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the crimes, says IPI.
At least 11 journalists and media personnel have died in Iraq alone, proving again that it remains the world's most dangerous country for journalists. Six journalists were killed in the Philippines, and two each in Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico, Pakistan and Somalia.
Regionally, Asia is leading the world in the number of journalists killed this year, with 14. In the Philippines, impunity is rife: 62 journalists have been killed because of their work since democracy was restored in 1986, according to IPI. Almost none of the killers have been brought to justice.
Read the IPI report here: http://www.freemedia.at/Death_Watch/d_watch2005.htm
Many IFEX members monitor journalists killed around the world, including IPI, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).
Read their latest reports here:
- IFJ: http://www.ifex.org- WAN: http://www.wan-press.org/rubrique706.html- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/killed/killed05.html- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=113