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Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Only 1 of 66 cases of journalists killed prosecuted in RP: media group
MANILA -- An international media group on Tuesday released a report criticizing the Philippine government for successfully prosecuting only one out of 66 cases of journalists killed in the line of duty since 1986.
"This report puts the government of the Philippines on notice: the world is watching," International Federal of Journalists President (IFJ) Christopher Warren said. "The government of President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo must halt the bloodshed of our colleagues and the citizens of the Philippines."
The IFJ report followed an international fact-finding mission in January led by senior Australian journalist Gerard Noonan and journalists from Indonesia and the Philippines.
The Philippines emerged last year as the second-deadliest place for journalists to work after Iraq with 13 killed.
The mission found that 66 journalists have been killed in the Philippines since democracy was restored in 1986 and only one case has been successfully prosecuted. It said tolerance of a culture of violence is responsible for the high death toll.
The impracticality and dangerous nature of the government's witness protection program, resulting in the murder of one witness, has contributed to the lack of cases being brought to trial, the report added.
It recommended establishing a safety office to develop training programs for journalists on ethics, human rights, self-protection and coverage of hostile regions. It also called for involvement of private organizations in a government task force to effectively investigate the cases of journalists killed. (AP)
(April 6, 2005 issue)
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