“If we believe that murder is wrong and not admissible in our society, then it has to be wrong for everyone, not just individuals but governments as well.”
--HELEN PREJEAN, Dead Man Walking
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- I hope I won’t “disappear” if I write critical stories against the Philippine Government even if I am in the United States.
Journalists around the world are probably expressing the same concern after brave Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared and believed to have been murdered when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, 2018.
The journalist’s mysterious disappearance has spawned an international diplomatic crisis and is currently the “talk of the town” in the global media.
Khashoggi has written extensively for the Washington Post about Saudi Arabia, criticizing its war in Yemen, its recent diplomatic spat with Canada and its arrest of women's rights activists after the lifting of a ban on women driving.
Those policies are all seen as initiatives of the billionaire Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Like Khashoggi, we also visit our Philippine Consulate from time to time to interview Consulate officials and cover art, cultural, musical, and political events even if in the stories we write, we critically call the attention of government officials concerned over some reported malpractices and suspected acts of graft and corruption.
Turkish officials have said they fear a Saudi hit team killed and dismembered Khashoggi, who wrote critically of the crown prince.
The kingdom has called such allegations "baseless," but has not offered any evidence Khashoggi ever left the consulate.
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I have written several critical articles against the extra-judicial killings (EJK) in the Philippines, but not against the person of Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who has been known to be sensitive to media criticism especially those who broadcast and write about the EJK involving suspected drug pushers and users mostly in the slum areas.
Based on the figure released by a joint report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), 85 cases of attacks against journalists have been recorded since Mr. Duterte assumed office in June 2016.
This includes the killing of 9 journalists, 16 libel cases, 14 cases of online harassment, 11 death threats, 6 slay attempts, 6 cases of harassment, 5 cases of intimidation, 4 cases of website attack, revoked registration or denied franchise renewal, verbal abuse, strafing, and police surveillance of journalists and media agencies.
Malous Mangahas, executive director of the PCIJ, said in a forum during the World Press Freedom Day in May early this year, the number “far exceeds those recorded under four presidents before him. Separately and together, these 85 cases have made the practice of journalism an even more dangerous endeavor under Duterte.”
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The nine media killings under Duterte's administration is higher compared to the numbers of slays during the first 22 months of other presidents: five during President Benigno “Noy-Noy”Aquino III's time, five under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, five cases under President Fidel Ramos and three cases under President Joseph Estrada.
Even if Mr. Duterte is known to be notoriously allergic to media criticism and does not mince words when issuing threats against reporters, we are confident he won’t go to the extent of violently muzzling journalists like me who want only to help the Philippine government and not to destroy the president’s reputation.
We reiterate that journalists are partners of Mr. Duterte and other officials in government in nation building, not enemies that agitate to topple the administration through subversive means.
We support the ongoing international efforts to investigate Khashoggi’s case and bring to court the perpetrators.
May his family recover his body dead or alive.
Showing posts with label #journalistskilled. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #journalistskilled. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2018
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
India, Philippines take joint 2nd place in annual death toll
Syria most dangerous country for journalists for second year running, with 19 killed
India continues to be one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in 2013
Global death toll down by 17 per cent on last year; but worrying increase in threats, abuse and kidnappings of news workers
Syria is the most dangerous country for journalists for the second year running.
The International News Safety Institute recorded 126 journalists and other media workers killed in 29 countries this year. The death toll is down by 17 per cent compared to last year, however the numbers of journalists assaulted, threatened and kidnapped appears to be increasing at a concerning rate.
Syria and Pakistan retained their position among the world’s five most dangerous countries for journalists. India, the Philippines and Iraq are also in the top five.
According to INSI figures, 19 journalists were killed in Syria. Most were local journalists targeted by either the authorities, pro-government or rebel groups, or killed by shelling or in crossfire. The Syrian death toll is down from 2012, when 28 media workers were killed. However, abductions among both local and foreign news media increased this year, a deterrent that meant many international news organisations are now not sending their teams to cover the conflict.
At least 18 foreign journalists and more than 20 Syrian journalists are believed to be missing in Syria after being detained or kidnapped there.
The Philippines and India were the second and third most dangerous countries, with 13 journalists killed in each country.
In the Philippines, nine journalists were murdered by unknown assailants, and so far their killers have enjoyed total impunity. The numbers of those who were died doing their jobs this year in the Southeast Asian archipelago was boosted by the deaths of four journalists killed while covering Typhoon Haiyan.
In India, seven journalists were murdered. Although many of these murders sparked speculation as to the motive of the killers, not one has been thoroughly investigated, and nobody has been brought to justice. A further two journalists were killed while covering communal violence in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and four died in accidents while on assignment.
Iraq was the fourth most dangerous country for journalists, with 11 members of the news media killed. Ten were murdered by unknown armed groups - seven in the northern city of Mosul. The local and national authorities have thus far failed to respond to the murders.
Pakistan remains in the top five most dangerous countries for journalists, where bombings and targeted killings are common. One of the biggest risks for journalists there is being caught up in secondary blasts.
The most dangerous countries for journalists in 2013 are:
Syria: 19 journalists killed
India: 12 journalists, 1 media worker killed //
Philippines: 12 journalists, 1 media worker killed
Iraq: 11 journalists killed
Pakistan: 9 journalists killed
Somalia: 8 journalists killed
Egypt: 6 journalists killed //
Brazil: 6 journalists killed
The preliminary findings, compiled in liaison with INSI's regional contacts, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI), are a prelude to INSI's biannual 'Killing the Messenger' report, an analysis of media casualties around the globe.
Other journalist support groups that are members of INSI maintain separate records based on their own criteria. They are:
The Committee to Protect Journalists http://www.cpj.org
The World Association of Newspapers http://wan-ifra.org
As a safety organisation, INSI records all deaths, whether deliberate, accidental or health-related, of all news media staff, support staff and freelancers while on assignment or as a result of their news organisation being attacked because of its work.
Global death toll down by 17 per cent on last year; but worrying increase in threats, abuse and kidnappings of news workers
Syria is the most dangerous country for journalists for the second year running.
The International News Safety Institute recorded 126 journalists and other media workers killed in 29 countries this year. The death toll is down by 17 per cent compared to last year, however the numbers of journalists assaulted, threatened and kidnapped appears to be increasing at a concerning rate.
Syria and Pakistan retained their position among the world’s five most dangerous countries for journalists. India, the Philippines and Iraq are also in the top five.
According to INSI figures, 19 journalists were killed in Syria. Most were local journalists targeted by either the authorities, pro-government or rebel groups, or killed by shelling or in crossfire. The Syrian death toll is down from 2012, when 28 media workers were killed. However, abductions among both local and foreign news media increased this year, a deterrent that meant many international news organisations are now not sending their teams to cover the conflict.
At least 18 foreign journalists and more than 20 Syrian journalists are believed to be missing in Syria after being detained or kidnapped there.
The Philippines and India were the second and third most dangerous countries, with 13 journalists killed in each country.
In the Philippines, nine journalists were murdered by unknown assailants, and so far their killers have enjoyed total impunity. The numbers of those who were died doing their jobs this year in the Southeast Asian archipelago was boosted by the deaths of four journalists killed while covering Typhoon Haiyan.
In India, seven journalists were murdered. Although many of these murders sparked speculation as to the motive of the killers, not one has been thoroughly investigated, and nobody has been brought to justice. A further two journalists were killed while covering communal violence in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and four died in accidents while on assignment.
Iraq was the fourth most dangerous country for journalists, with 11 members of the news media killed. Ten were murdered by unknown armed groups - seven in the northern city of Mosul. The local and national authorities have thus far failed to respond to the murders.
Pakistan remains in the top five most dangerous countries for journalists, where bombings and targeted killings are common. One of the biggest risks for journalists there is being caught up in secondary blasts.
The most dangerous countries for journalists in 2013 are:
Syria: 19 journalists killed
India: 12 journalists, 1 media worker killed //
Philippines: 12 journalists, 1 media worker killed
Iraq: 11 journalists killed
Pakistan: 9 journalists killed
Somalia: 8 journalists killed
Egypt: 6 journalists killed //
Brazil: 6 journalists killed
The preliminary findings, compiled in liaison with INSI's regional contacts, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI), are a prelude to INSI's biannual 'Killing the Messenger' report, an analysis of media casualties around the globe.
Other journalist support groups that are members of INSI maintain separate records based on their own criteria. They are:
The Committee to Protect Journalists http://www.cpj.org
The World Association of Newspapers http://wan-ifra.org
As a safety organisation, INSI records all deaths, whether deliberate, accidental or health-related, of all news media staff, support staff and freelancers while on assignment or as a result of their news organisation being attacked because of its work.
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