|
Bogota,
Colombia, 25 March 2002
For immediate release
Media Condemn Colombian Terrorism
More than 200 publishers, journalists and free press advocates
from 15 countries, meeting in Bogota, Colombia, have condemned
"without reservation" the "outrageous and
cowardly" attacks on the media by Colombian criminals
and terrorists.
In a resolution, they stated that "in a period of unprecedented
terror against humanity, it is more urgent than ever to
stand resolute against, and to condemn, every single violation
of the fundamental, democratic principles which govern the
civilised world."
The resolution said:
"Freedom of expression and the right to be informed
are basic conditions for any society to be defined as democratic.
Any threat to these fundamental rights seriously damages
society and endangers democracy.
"Media professionals working to maintain these principles
have the right to carry out their duties safely and freely
without the risk of being threatened harassed or attacked.
"In Colombia, paramilitary and criminal organisations
have made media and their staff a target for violent attacks.
Thus freedom and expression and of the press is seriously
limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, pressure, intimidation,
destruction of printing and broadcast facilities, and violence
of any kind and impunity for perpetrators.
"In order to confront this challenge, the World Association
of Newspapers, the World Editors Forum, the Colombian Newspaper
Publishers Association, Andiarios, together with the Inter-American
Press Organisation, UNESCO and the International Media Support
Fund have organised the conference -- Media in Danger --
taking place in Bogotà 22-23 March 2002, gathering
more than 200 media professionals from 15 countries.
"The Conference condemns without reservation the outrageous
and cowardly attacks on the free press and calls on the
authorities, police and security forces to do everything
possible to apprehend the perpetrators.
"The Conference underlines the importance of national
and international attention to the plight of the Colombian
press in the face of murders and kidnappings.
"The Conference urges initiatives to advance efforts
to protect media professionals, including the reinforcement
of the Colombian press freedom organisations.
"On behalf of the world newspaper community, we the
participants also express our total solidarity with journalists
and media in Colombia in their dangerous and courageous
work and their refusal to be held hostage to threats and
violence.
"The participants of the Conference strongly encourage
all democratic political parties in Colombia to denounce
without reserve all forms of violence and intimidation of
the press and to refrain from any speech or writing that
incites hatred or violence against media.
"In a period of unprecedented terror against humanity,
it is more urgent than ever to stand resolute against, and
to condemn, every single violation of the fundamental, democratic
principles, which govern the civilised world. That has been
the aim of this conference."
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper
industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide.
It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes
71 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper
executives in 100 countries, 13 news agencies and seven
regional and world-wide press groups.
The WEF is the division of WAN that represents senior news
executives.
Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications,
WAN, 25 rue d'Astorg, 75008 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47
42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97
36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr
|
