DATE=1/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225004
TITLE=MURDERED JOURNALISTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JOE CHAPMAN
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: OFFICIALS OF INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM ORGANIZATIONS
SAID (THURSDAY) 26 JOURNALISTS WERE MURDERED IN 14 COUNTRIES
DURING 1997. CORRESPONDENT JOE CHAPMAN HAS THIS REPORT FROM NEW
YORK.
TEXT: THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS SAYS SEVEN OF THE 26
JOURNALISTS DIED IN INDIA. FOUR WERE KILLED IN COLOMBIA, THREE
IN MEXICO, TWO IN CAMBODIA. INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS WERE MURDERED
IN ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, GUATEMALA, INDONESIA, IRAN, PAKISTAN, THE
PHILLIPINES, RWANDA, SIERRA LEONE, AND UKRAINE.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JOURNALISTS COMMITTEE, WILLIAM ORME,
SAYS HIS GROUP AND ANOTHER BASED IN PARIS (REPORTERS SANS
FRONTIERES) ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE MURDERS.
/// ORME ACT ///
MOST OF THEM WERE DELIBERATE POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS
AND THAT IS THE SINGLE MOST STRIKING FACT ABOUT THIS.
OVER THE PAST DECADE AND PERHAPS FOR LONGER, POLITICAL
ASSASSINATION HAS BEEN THE LEADING CAUSE OF JOB RELATED
DEATH FOR JOURNALISTS AROUND THE WORLD.
/// END ACT ///
MR. ORME SAYS MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME JOURNALISTS, BELIEVE
THE VIOLENCE IS AIMED AT GLOBE-TRAVELING JOURNALISTS WHO
REPRESENT LARGE NEWS MEDIA COMPANIES. BUT MR. ORME SAYS THE REAL
THREAT IS TO LOCAL REPORTERS WORKING IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES.
/// REST OPT ///
/// ORME ACT ///
MOST JOURNALISTS WHO ARE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ARE
LOCAL JOURNALISTS. THEY ARE POLITICAL COLUMNISTS, THEY
ARE BEAT REPORTERS, COVERING CRIMINAL GANGS, THEY ARE
OPINION WRITERS CRITICIZING PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER
STRIKE BACK AGAINST THEM. THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE IN TRENCH
COATS (FOREIGN CORESPONDENTS). THEY ARE PEOPLE WORKING
OUT OF THEIR OWN HOMES AND OFFICES IN THEIR OWN
COUNTRIES.
/// END ACT ///
MR. ORME SAYS EDITORS IN SOME COUNTRIES ARE ASKING REPORTERS TO
RISK THEIR LIVES IN MANY CASES TO DO WHAT IS USUALLY CONSIDERED
ROUTINE WORK FOR A JOURNALIST. MR. ORME SAYS JOURNALISTS IN A
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ARE NO LONGER WILLING TO TAKE THESE RISKS.
PERHAPS THE BEST NEWS, MR. ORME SAYS, IS THAT NO JOURNALISTS WERE
KILLED IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IN THE PAST
YEAR. HE SAYS THAT IS THE RESULT OF A CHANGED POLITICAL
SITUATION IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- BUT HE EMPHASIZES THERE IS
STILL CONSIDERABLE RISK FOR REPORTERS THERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/JMC/LSF/RAE
08-Jan-98 3:05 PM EST (2005 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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