ID :
59254
Wed, 05/06/2009 - 17:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/59254
The shortlink copeid
NO COMPROMISE ON PRESS FREEDOM: CJA
KUCHING, May 6 (Bernama) -- THe Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA),
which observed the World Press Freedom Day last Sunday by holding seminars and
meetings in its branches across the Commonwealth, said there will be no
compromise on press freedom.
CJA president Hassan Shahriar said journalists throughout the Commonwealth
could take comfort in knowing that the CJA would be on their side, to the
greatest extent possible, in continuing to press for and foster press freedom
with support for "our colleagues whose craft is under siege".
"Throughout the year, and especially on World Press Freedom Day on May 3,
our thoughts and prayers are with our many Commonwealth friends and colleagues
who face censorship, intimidation, physical harm and, worse, death in the
pursuit of their craft," he said in a statement e-mailed to Bernama Wednesday.
He said those who live in Commonwealth countries such as Great Britain,
India, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand had press freedom and freedom of
speech enshrined in their constitutions but in far too many Commonwealth
countries, despotic governments, thugs, tribal factions and others sought to
suppress and muzzle the press.
"Northern Pakistan, Fiji, Sri Lanka, and the Gambia come to mind in recent
days. There are others with less-than-perfect performances, and judicial
practices which need reform, particularly old criminal libel and sedition laws,"
he said.
Shahriar said the Internet made it possible to easily learn about assaults
on press freedom and the press throughout the world while there were no places
to hide for a "Robert Mugabe-style" leadership in the face of worldwide scorn.
"We would like to think that proposed changes in Zimbabwe to allow more
press freedom are the result of worldwide pressures," he said.
"The welfare of our members is central to the work of the CJA. We have
documented evidence of journalists in some countries being abused by despots
masquerading as politicians. We will expose and embarrass," he said, adding that
the CJA re-emphasised this position during its 2008 conference in Kuching.
The statement on press freedom was contained in its final communiqué at the
conference on Oct 14-18 last year.
Shahriar He said the World Press Association was a forerunner in supporting
the special day, for which messages, images and videos related to press freedom
could be downloaded at : http://www.worldpressfreedomday.org.
-- BERNAMA
which observed the World Press Freedom Day last Sunday by holding seminars and
meetings in its branches across the Commonwealth, said there will be no
compromise on press freedom.
CJA president Hassan Shahriar said journalists throughout the Commonwealth
could take comfort in knowing that the CJA would be on their side, to the
greatest extent possible, in continuing to press for and foster press freedom
with support for "our colleagues whose craft is under siege".
"Throughout the year, and especially on World Press Freedom Day on May 3,
our thoughts and prayers are with our many Commonwealth friends and colleagues
who face censorship, intimidation, physical harm and, worse, death in the
pursuit of their craft," he said in a statement e-mailed to Bernama Wednesday.
He said those who live in Commonwealth countries such as Great Britain,
India, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand had press freedom and freedom of
speech enshrined in their constitutions but in far too many Commonwealth
countries, despotic governments, thugs, tribal factions and others sought to
suppress and muzzle the press.
"Northern Pakistan, Fiji, Sri Lanka, and the Gambia come to mind in recent
days. There are others with less-than-perfect performances, and judicial
practices which need reform, particularly old criminal libel and sedition laws,"
he said.
Shahriar said the Internet made it possible to easily learn about assaults
on press freedom and the press throughout the world while there were no places
to hide for a "Robert Mugabe-style" leadership in the face of worldwide scorn.
"We would like to think that proposed changes in Zimbabwe to allow more
press freedom are the result of worldwide pressures," he said.
"The welfare of our members is central to the work of the CJA. We have
documented evidence of journalists in some countries being abused by despots
masquerading as politicians. We will expose and embarrass," he said, adding that
the CJA re-emphasised this position during its 2008 conference in Kuching.
The statement on press freedom was contained in its final communiqué at the
conference on Oct 14-18 last year.
Shahriar He said the World Press Association was a forerunner in supporting
the special day, for which messages, images and videos related to press freedom
could be downloaded at : http://www.worldpressfreedomday.org.
-- BERNAMA
