- Title: JAPAN: Seventy journalists killed around the world in 2009 - report
- Date: 17th February 2010
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 16, 2010) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE AT FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF JAPAN MAN HOLDING BOOK ENTITLED "ATTACKS ON THE PRESS IN 2009" BOOK'S COVER (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOEL SIMON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS (CPJ), SAYING "The message that we are here to deliver is 2009 was a very, very bad year for press freedom. That's the unfortunate reality. We saw a record number of journalists killed around the world. We documented 70 cases. The primary reason is the Mindanao massacre in the Philippines. 32 journalists were killed in a single event." AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOEL SIMON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS (CPJ), SAYING "We've documented 47 journalists in jail in Iran. That is more than any other country in the world including China. So the situation for journalists in Iran is treacherous. The repression is ongoing. And we are frankly gravely concerned about the fate of journalists jailed in that country." BOOK ON TABLE 8 (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOEL SIMON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS (CPJ), SAYING "I think what we need to do is show these journalists who are in jail that they are not forgotten, that there is a level of international concern and solidarity, and we have to let authorities in Iran know that." SIMON TALKING TO MEMBER OF AUDIENCE PEOPLE TALKING AFTER EVENT
- Embargoed: 4th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Communications
- Reuters ID: LVAC92E34V2XUHJOQWQ96H6N2601
- Story Text: The number of journalists killed around the world hit a record high in 2009 with the death toll reaching 70, according to a survey by an international group advocating for freedom of the press.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that the 2009 tally compared to 42 deaths in 2008 and surpassed the previous record of 67 deaths in 2007 --partly due to a massacre in the Philippines that killed more than 30 journalists in November.
"The message that we are here to deliver is 2009 was a very, very bad year for press freedom. That's the unfortunate reality. We saw a record number of journalists killed around the world. We documented 70 cases. The primary reason is the Mindanao massacre in the Philippines. 32 journalists were killed in a single event," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon told a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday (February 16).
Somalia, which western security agencies say has become a safe haven for militants, including foreign extremists, came in second with nine media deaths, according to the New York-based group's latest report entitled "Attacks on the Press in 2009".
All but two of the 2009 victims were local journalists, the report said.
The journalists murdered in the Philippines massacre were among 57 people killed after they were stopped at a checkpoint while on their way to file a candidate's nomination for elections next year, it said.
Simon said the situation faced by journalists in Iran was also worrying.
"We've documented 47 journalists in jail in Iran. That is more than any other country in the world including China. So the situation for journalists in Iran is treacherous. The repression is ongoing. And we are frankly gravely concerned about the fate of journalists jailed in that country," Simon said.
"I think what we need to do is show these journalists who are in jail that they are not forgotten, that there is a level of international concern and solidarity, and we have to let authorities in Iran know that," he added.
In addition to the many who were killed in the Philippines, four journalists were killed in Pakistan, three in Russia, two in Sri Lanka and Mexico and one in Venezuela, Nepal, Madagascar, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, El Salvador, Colombia, Israel and the Palestinian Territory, Iran, Afghanistan and Kenya.
About three-quarters of the journalists killed in 2009 were targeted in retaliation for their work, 11 journalists were killed in crossfire during combat situations and seven died covering dangerous assignments such as raids or protests, the report said.
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