2 February 2005

PRESIDENT SNUBS IFJ MISSION


A fact-finding mission to the Philippines led by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has found that a "widespread culture of violence tolerated by senior government authorities" is behind the high numbers of journalists killed in the country.

After meetings with local journalists, police officials, mayors, governors and Department of Justice representatives in several provinces, the IFEX member held a press conference in Manila on 30 January 2005 where it said more than 50 journalists have been murdered in the Philippines since 1986, including a record 13 in 2004. No one has been brought to justice for any of the murders.

A day later, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo abruptly cancelled a scheduled meeting with IFJ. A spokesperson for the President says IFJ's information is "misleading," arguing that the majority of the cases of murdered journalists have been solved. The government considers a murder solved when a suspect has been identified.

IFJ says official tolerance of attacks on journalists has allowed local political figures and strongmen to hire assassins to kill journalists in reprisal for their reporting. Poor working conditions and a lack of safety support from media employers also contribute to the high death toll, the organisation adds.

IFJ and its local affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, plan to lobby the government to reopen several unsolved murder cases as a result of new information obtained during the fact-finding mission. A full report containing cases, the mission's findings and recommendations will be launched in February.

Visit:

- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2925&Language=EN
- National Union of Journalists of the Philippines: http://www.nujp.org/
- Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility: http://www.cmfr.com.ph/
- Publisher Survives Assassination Attempt: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64179/
- President's Office Calls IFJ Report Misleading: http://www.nujp.org/jan%2031-04%20bunye.htm
- Journalists Killed since 1986: http://www.nujp.org/casualties.htm


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Also from the Communiqué, 2 February 2005

NEPAL: STATE OF EMERGENCY IMPERILS INFORMATION FLOW 2 February 2005 TAJIKISTAN: FREE EXPRESSION WORSENING AHEAD OF ELECTIONS 2 February 2005 INTERNATIONAL: RSF CONDEMNS HARASSMENT OF AL-JAZEERA 2 February 2005 POLAND: CRIMINAL DEFAMATION LAWS HAMPER FREE EXPRESSION 2 February 2005 CHINA: Beijing Moves to Curb "Blogging Revolution" 2 February 2005 ARGENTINA: "Crazy" Radio Gives Voice to Mental Patients 2 February 2005 INTERNATIONAL: ICFJ to Hold Press Freedom Workshops in Guatemala, Costa Rica 2 February 2005 INTERNATIONAL: GENDER IN JOURNALISM AWARDS 2 February 2005 INTERNATIONAL: CHILEAN WINS LORENZO NATALI JOURNALISM PRIZE 2 February 2005

Philippines

Radio commentator threatened on Facebook 25 May 2012 Another Mindanao radio anchor receives threat over mining stories 15 May 2012 Radio commentator in Mindanao receives death threat 15 May 2012 Sometime weather reporter killed 10 May 2012 Radio broadcaster shot dead in Davao Oriental 9 May 2012 See all alerts: Philippines


Asia and Pacific

INDIA: Charges against video journalist must be dropped 25 May 2012 CAMBODIA: Lake activists sentenced, monk detained after taking part in protest 25 May 2012 PAKISTAN: Moves to squelch media, again 25 May 2012 CHINA: Anti-foreign attitudes bode ill for China correspondents 24 May 2012


 
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