Demands of Trials for Journalist Murders
By Kawther Salam • May 26th, 2010 at 21:43 • Category: Kawther's Choice
“All the Journalist Unions should move from statements of solidarity with the Palestinian journalists to real actions and measures, as going to the international courts to try the Israeli officials who are responsible for horrific crimes and murders of Palestinian Journalists” stated the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate “PJS” delegation during the World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists "IFJ" “Journalism in Touch with the Future" which was held in Cadiz in Spain on May 25 2010.
The conference was opened by the Vice-President of the government of Spain, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, and attended nearly by 300 delegates representing reporting and editorial staff from over 100 countries.
The delegation of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate “PJS”, included General Secretary Abed Al-Nasser Al-Naggar, his vice Yousef Al-Ustath, and Nabhan Khreisheh, the chairman of the PJS foreign relations committee. They spoke about the murders, horrible crimes and daily problems which the Palestinian journalists face under the Israeli occupation.
The delegation highlighted during it’s intervention about Israel's crimes and the intentional assassinations directed against Palestinian journalists. The delegation raised the image of the Palestinian journalist Fadel Shana, who was killed two years ago by an Israeli tank shell while he was in the performance of his journalistic duties.
The PJS demands were met with huge sympathy inside the conference hall. The attendants warmly applauded the delegation.
The IFJ Congress was held in Spain as it coincides with celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Cadiz and the adoption of the first freedom of press law in Spain, which was adopted in 1810.
The attendants of the congress were confronted with the full range of massive problems facing the media industry and journalists, including threats of death and violence, governmental interference, the crisis of confidence in traditional media and markets which are hit by the impact of the Internet, and growing demands from within the community of journalists for action to defend ethical and professional standards.
According to IFJ information published on their website, the Spanish
deputy Prime Minister, Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, told the world's largest group of journalist leaders meeting for the World Congress of the IFJ in Cadiz, that decisions to be taken about the future of media and journalism will have an impact on the future of democracy. She said: “"Whatever the future brings, the press will remain the pillar of democracy". She told the attendants of the IFJ conference ”We are nearer to having an informed citizenry than never before thanks to media."
Jim Boumelha, President of the IFJ, told delegates at the Congress that the
IFJ represents a powerful voice for journalists and has grown into a global organization fit for journalism in the modern world. He said: “The IFJ has proved we can work globally and in unison in defense of journalists' rights"; he added “the reaction to the unprecedented massacre of journalists in the Philippines and campaigns to defend journalists in Iran and the Gambia are cases in point." He praised to the courage of journalists who are leading the fight back against attacks on press freedom around the world and said their voices needed to be heard.
Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary, said that journalism is separating from
media as the past role of publishers as radical social reformers is fading. He added: "Publishers of traditional news media are now systematically abandoning fundamental principles of independent journalism and are cutting jobs, stopping investigative journalism, ceasing training and adopting business models based on the opposite of ethical journalism. If publishers and media owners continue in this direction, they will forfeit their role as defenders of news freedom and lose the justification for a special place in society" warned the IFJ general secretary.
Kawther Salam is a Palestinian journalist. She had a career of over 20 years working for various newspapers and TV stations in Palestine. She forced to live in the Exile in Vienna since 2002.
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I applaud the statement by Spain's Prime Minister Teresa Fernandez concerning the role of Journalism in democracy.
Kawther picks a gem in this work in progress as it represents a much needed beginning in Palestine's future.
I don't think that there is much argument against todays new truth for Palestine being told around the globe, responsibly, Thanks and praise are in order for all of these valient efforts from all of Palestine and have been pouring out with grace. Such a response of gratitude deserves a hug back from the huiman rights and journalist communities covering all points surrounding middle east issue from many perspectives. One perspective that should never be compromised is that of objective unity of profession being the new way forward for democracy.
Objective Unity is unconditional love in the ranks of reporters worldwide with respect to why they do what they do and for whom. The paycheck should never have politics associated with it, rule number one, of their are strings, we need to cut them, Objective reporting is democracy, propaganda is for amateurs, professionals tell the truth, even if power is waiting to punish them for it. The answer to this is from the Prime Minister of Spain and frank as frank can be, BACK THEM UP IN COURT She supports Palestinian journalists, decries "Israeli" assassination and defamation of Palestine and as with many others, she is leading with a virtue, not cowering with a vice, Thanks to Kawther, to Prime Minister Fernandez and in memoriam of those who have been lost to cowardice, we rise to bravery in remembrance of them and will bring democracy by bringing the truth, loud and clear, and defending those who tell it with our lives. Peace may come, but not without fierce courage, Theresa Fernandez is beautifully strong and prescient in her support for journalists, we all can take this as good leadership and fall behind her with our every blessing.
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