THE Philippines
ranked third in the list of worst countries in terms of upholding press
freedom, the annual index of the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) showed.
The country trailed Iraq and Somalia.
The CPJ’s 2013 Impunity Index, which was released in time for the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day on Friday, lists the countries where media men are being killed but the people behind their deaths do not face trial and run free instead.
“Despite President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s vow to reverse impunity in journalist murders, the Philippines ranked third worst worldwide for the fourth consecutive year. Fifty-five journalist murders have gone unsolved in the past decade,” the CPJ said.
“The 2011 Ortega murder reflects the politically inspired nature of the large majority of Philippine killings, along with the general breakdown in the rule of law that has allowed the killings to continue,” the organization added.
Gerry Ortega, a radio talk show host who exposed corruption, was shot in the back of the head while shopping in a Puerto Princesa City store.
Police made arrests and traced the murder weapon to a provincial governor’s aide. But the case suffered a severe blow in 2013 when an alleged conspirator who had turned state witness was killed in prison.
The CPJ calculated the ratio of unsolved media killings to each country’s population for the Impunity Index. Included in their list are unsolved cases of media killings from January 1, 2003 to December 21 2012.
Completing the list of 12 countries with the highest media impunity index are Sri Lanka, Colombia, Afghanistan, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Nigeria, and India.
Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Friday issued a call to action to ensure the safety of journalists in every country, stressing that the whole world would benefit if everyone is safe to speak.
“As we mark World Press Freedom Day, let us pledge to do our utmost to enable all journalists in all media to do their jobs. When it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits,” Ban said.
“Every day, freedom of expression faces new threats. Because they help ensure transparency and accountability in public affairs, journalists are frequent targets of violence,” Ban said.
For her part, Irina Bokova, director-general of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), noted that many media
workers from various
countries also suffer from intimidation, threats and violence.
“Too many [journalists and media workers] experience arbitrary detention and torture, often without legal recourse. We must show resolve in the face of such insecurity and injustice,” Bokova said.
This year’s theme, “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media”, seeks to rally global action to protect the safety of all journalists worldwide and to break the vicious circle of impunity for crimes committed against them.
According to Unesco, more than 600 journalists have been killed in the past decade, many while reporting in non-conflict situations. Impunity is also widespread as nine out of 10 cases of killings of journalists go unpunished.
In 1993, the UN General Assembly designated May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.
Press freedom, Ban said, does not happen automatically but requires the creation of a safe environment for dialogue, where they can execute their jobs without fear of reprisal.
The UN chief also noted that action must encompass both traditional media as well as digital mediums, where news is increasingly produced and consumed.
“Bloggers, citizen reporters and social media producers, as well as their sources, face increasing threats to their safety,” Ban said.
“In addition to physical dangers, they are being targeted with psychological and emotional violence through cyber-attacks, data breaches, intimidation, undue surveillance and invasions of privacy. Such assaults not only limit the right to freedom of expression and threaten the safety of online journalists and their sources—they undermine the ability of all people to benefit from a free and open Internet,” he added.
Posts
