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Alert

RSF annual roundup on press freedom in 2005

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 4 January 2006 RSF press release:

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS ANNUAL ROUNDUP ON PRESS FREEDOM IN 2005

Violence still increasing: 63 journalists killed, more than 1,300 physically attacked or threatened

In 2005
- 63 journalists and 5 media assistants were killed
- at least 807 journalists were arrested
- 1,308 physically attacked or threatened
- and 1,006 media outlets censored

In 2004
- 53 journalists and 15 media assistants were killed
- at least 907 journalists were arrested
- at least 1,146 physically attacked or threatened
- and 622 media outlets censored

On 1 January 2006: 126 journalists and 70 cyber-dissidents were in jail around the world.

The deadliest year for a decade

At least 63 journalists were killed in 2005 while doing their job or for expressing their opinions, the highest annual toll since 1995 (when 64 were killed, 22 of them in Algeria). Five media assistants (fixers, drivers, translators, technicians, security staff and others) were also killed.

For the third year running, Iraq was the world's most dangerous country for the media, with 24 journalists and 5 media assistants killed. 76 journalists and media assistants have been killed there since the start of fighting in March 2003, more than in the 1955-75 Vietnam War. Terrorist strikes and Iraqi guerrilla attacks were the main cause but the US army killed three of them. Iraqi TV producer Wael al-Bakri, 30, was shot dead by US troops on 28 June. A US Third Infantry Division spokesman admitted the next day in Baghdad that a US unit was involved in his death and said an enquiry had been opened. No result has been announced in this nor in the other investigated killings.

In the Philippines too, journalists were killed while trying to inform the public. Their enemies were no longer armed groups but politicians, businessmen and drug-traffickers ready to silence journalists who exposed their crimes. Despite the conviction during the year of the killer of journalist Edgar Damalerio, murdered in 2002 on the island of Mindanao, impunity remained the rule. Journalists in other Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) were also killed because of their work.

Physical attacks on politicians and journalists rocked Lebanon during the year and two leading journalists were killed - Samir Kassir (in June) and Gebran Tueni (in December). Kassir was a columnist for the daily An-Nahar and Tueni was the paper's publisher. May Chidiac, a well-known TV presenter with the station LBC, survived a bomb attack on her car in September but lost a hand and a leg.

Violence against journalists also increased in Africa, with journalists murdered in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Somalia and their killers (some of them known) going unpunished. The investigation of the December 2004 murder of Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, the local correspondent of Agence France-Presse and Reporters Without Borders, made no progress because the authorities did all they could to prevent those responsible from being identified and to ensure they escaped punishment.

In the Americas, two journalists were killed in Mexico for investigating drug smuggling and petrol racketeering.

Several journalists were murdered in Russia and Belarus in shady circumstances and some apparently because of their work. Official investigations there, often biased and politically-influenced, hardly ever produce results.

Physical attacks and threats keep on growing

More than 1,300 physical attacks and threats were recorded by Reporters Without Borders during the year - more than in the previous one.

These occurred almost daily in Bangladesh and Nepal and came from all sides - police, government or opposition party activists and members of armed groups. The attackers are very rarely punished and can thus continue to target journalists undeterred.

Journalist Manjur Morshed was seriously injured when he was badly beaten with a bamboo stick in the southern Bangladeshi town of Baufal in August by a pro-government MP he had accused of corruption. Local journalists demonstrated in protest against the attack.

Election campaigns often bring violence against the media and national votes in Egypt and Azerbaijan saw dozens of physical attacks on journalists reporting on demonstrations and the actual voting.

About 50 journalists were beaten up by police, soldiers or henchmen of local politicians in Nigeria and Peru and accused of not minding their own business. Such violence was worse in the provinces and the journalists were mostly punched or hit with sticks.

Other people attack journalists too and the Peruvian ambassador to Spain, during a trip home to Lima in April, physically attacked a radio journalist who wanted to interview him. The right arm of the reporter, Bettina Mendoza, of the station CPN, was injured. The diplomat later apologised.

For the full RSF 2005 Roundup, visit the RSF website at: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=16088