NEWS FLASH - Journalists under fire

So far, 2006 wasn't a great year for the international media. In the first two months up until March 13 (moment of writing), 7 journalists and 5 media assistants were killed: 3 journalists and all media assistants in Iraq. With 12 media workers over two months, year 2006 could – unfortunately - be just as a bloody year as 2005 was.

2005 was a sad, bloody, and horrific year for the media worldwide: Between January 1st and December 31st 2005 65 journalists and reporters from across the world were killed, ten more than in 2004. At least 807 journalists were arrested, 1 308 media workers and journalists were physically attacked or threatened and over 1 006 media outlets were censored.

From the lives lost amongst journalists, reporters and other media people, more than one third – 23 - occurred in Iraq. Other died in the line of duty in Philippines (9), Bangladesh (3), Haiti (3), Brazil (2), Colombia (2), Lebanon (2), Mexico (2), Nepal (2), Pakistan (2), Somalia (2), Sri Lanka (2), Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Libya, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, and Thailand.

Asia: Risky Business
One of the conclusions of a 2005 annual report by Reporters Without Borders is that journalists, reporters and media people are most at risk in Asia. First of all, Asia ranks second after North Africa and the Middle East Asia with 17 deaths.

Furthermore, the continent is accountable for 352 cases of arrests and imprisonment (more then a third). Asia also claims one third of the total number of cases of physical attack and threatening (583 of 1 308 ). Last but not least, it was in Asian where most media outlets (745 out of the 1006) were censored and shut down.

Freedom of Speech Behind Bars
In 2005 many journalists have been arrested in 2005. According to Reporters Without Borders the figure of 807 is just an estimate. A low estimate: many cases of imprisonment of journalists are not reported by authorities of these specific countries. “[This figure] But this is not good enough, because every day an average of two journalists are arrested somewhere in the world just for trying to do their job,” as is stated in the 2005 report.

In 2005 many journalists across the world who were put behind bars in previous years, were still waiting for their release. To name a few:

Chinese journalist Yu Dongyue was imprisoned for 18 years after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 for “counter-revolutionary propaganda.” The 75-year-old Burmese Journalist Win Tin has been behind bars for 17 years. Libyan Abdullah Ali al-Sanussi al-Darrat has imprisoned the longest, since 1973.

2006: Bloody and violent prospect
Unfortunately, the year 2006 does not promise to be a good one for the media as already 12 media workers and journalist have lost their lives in the line of duty. If this would a 2-month average, by 31st of December the year 2006 will in the end claim 72 lives of journalists and reporters. When taken in consideration all the media people that are behind bars and that will be confronted with violence and harassment 2006 cannot be described as a pretty year.

For more information on freedom of speech, freedom of press and relevant information surf to the website of Reporters Sans Frontieres or Reporters Without Borders.

Miriam Mannak / Cape Town