[NUJ Bristol] Attacks on Journalists in Iraq Are 'Crimes of War': IFJ

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IFJ Says Attacks on Journalists in Iraq Are 'Crimes of War' That Must be 
Punished;
Call for Independent International Inquiry into Targeting of Media and 
Killings of Reporters
http://www.unobserver.com/layout5.php?id=849&blz=1

a week late - email was knocked out ;-) Tony

2003-04-21

The International Federation of Journalists today condemned both sides in 
the Iraq conflict of "crimes of war" after a series of attacks on 
journalists and deaths of media staff.

The IFJ is calling for an independent international inquiry after an attack 
on a hotel where journalists are staying in Baghdad and after US troops 
allegedly destroyed the offices of Al Jazeera Television and Abu Dhabi 
Television.

"There is no doubt at all that these attacks could be targeting 
journalists. If so, they are grave and serious violations of international 
law," said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ. "The bombing of 
hotels where journalists are staying and targeting of Arab media are 
particularly shocking events in a war which is being fought in the name of 
democracy. Those who are responsible must be brought to justice".

At the same time the IFJ condemns what appears to be Iraqi tactics of using 
civilians and journalists as a "human shield" against attack. "The Baghdad 
authorities are just as culpable with their reckless disregard for civilian 
lives," said White.

The IFJ says that 12 journalists and media staff have died in the war so 
far. The latest deaths and injuries comes as American troops push into 
Baghdad. Blasts hit Baghdad's high-rise Palestine Hotel, which houses 
foreign media, today, killing one journalist working for Spanish Telecinco, 
and killing one and wounding three journalists working for Reuters. Shortly 
before the attack another strike was made which shattered the offices of 
Al-Jazeera Television killing one journalist and injuring another.

"It is cruelly ironic that after the Iraqi regime plays cat-and-mouse with 
Al Jazeera, first banning them, then allowing them to stay, it appears they 
have been attacked by American forces," said Aidan White. The IFJ says that 
this attack is a shocking mirror of the destruction of the Kabul offices of 
Al Jazeera by American forces during the war in Afghanistan. "It is 
impossible not to detect a sinister pattern of targeting," said White.

"We are still waiting for a satisfactory explanation for the attack on the 
ITN crew at the start of the war in which we think three colleagues were 
killed," said White. The IFJ says that there is eye- witness testimony 
accusing the US of deliberately firing upon clearly marked television vehicles.

"The United Nations system and the international media community must be 
fully engaged in finding out what happened in these cases and action must 
be taken to ensure it never happens again," said White. "We can expect 
denials of intent from the military, but what we really want is the truth."

The IFJ says that the global media community, including journalists, media 
organisations and press freedom campaigners, should join hands under the 
banner of the newly-formed International News Safety Institute to hold a 
complete and in depth inquiry. The INSI is a coalition of more than 100 
organisations campaigning for a global news safety programme.

"You cannot fight for democracy with the lives of journalists and media 
staff," said White. "Media and journalists have little choice about 
covering this war - it is the first real-time war story in history - and 
their protection, embedded or not, must be paramount."

The IFJ says that the immediate aftermath of the war should involve a 
review of international rules to try to improve the levels of protection, 
for journalists and media staff. "This war has been the most televised 
conflict in history," said White, "but the protection afforded to 
journalists and media staff is prehistoric by comparison."

The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries.

http://www.unobserver.com/layout5.php?id=849&blz=1

International Federation of Journalists http://www.ifj.org/

Bristol branch - National Union of Journalists
10-12 Picton Street
Montpelier
BRISTOL
BS6 5QA
England
http://lists.southspace.net/listinfo/nuj_bristol/
http://www.gn.apc.org/media/nuj.html
http://www.nuj.org.uk
0117 944 6219

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