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| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
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Attacks on journalists - 'crimes of war' says IFJ by S.H.A. Careem The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says that attacks on journalists in Iraq are 'crimes of war' and is calling for an international inquiry into targeting of media and killings of reporters. The IFJ has condemned the attack on a hotel where journalists were staying in Baghdad and after US troops allegedly destroyed the offices of Al Jazeera TV and Abu Dhabi TV. "There is no doubt at all that these attacks could be targeting If so they are grave and serious violations of international law", said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ in a statement. The IFJ says that 19 journalists and media staff have died in the war so far. "We are still waiting for a satisfactory explanation for the attack on the TV crew at the start of the war in which we think three colleagues were killed", said Aidan White. The IFJ says that there is eye-witness testimony accusing the US of deliberately firing upon clearly marked TV vehicles. The IFJ says that the international media community, press freedom campaigners and peace forces 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. 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", says Aidan White, but the protection afforded to journalists and media staff is prehistoric by comparison". The Union of Journalists of Sri Lanka in a statement, commended the action taken by the IFJ on attacks on Journalists in Iraq and endorsed the IFJ statement on the Iraqi war calling for an international inquiry into the attacks on journalists. |
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