Palace officials a 'no-show' in meeting with IFJ
Government officials Monday snubbed a meeting with representatives of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) who just wrapped up a fact-finding mission on the rising number of journalist killed in the Philippines.
In a statement, the delegation led by senior Australian journalist Gerard Noonan and journalists from Indonesia and the Philippines expressed disappointment after Malacañang canceled a scheduled meeting with Arroyo administration officials.
The IFJ delegation is in the Philippines to investigate the rising number of journalists killed. As part of the mission, a meeting was set with representatives of President Arroyo but was unexpectedly canceled by Palace officials.
More than 50 journalists have been murdered in the Philippines since 1986 -- 13 were killed in 2004 alone, making the Philippines second only to Iraq for the number of journalists killed during the year.
On Sunday, the delegation announced at a press conference in Manila that a widespread culture of violence tolerated by authorities is behind the high death toll.
"When such a culture is allowed to flourish at an official level, it is little wonder that aggrieved local strongmen or political figures turn to hit men to get even with the media," said Noonan.
Poor working conditions of journalists and the lack of safety support from employers were also reported by the delegation as being contributing factors to the high death toll.
"Vast numbers of journalists are receiving a pittance or nothing at all for their work. They are being exploited and sometimes forced into conflict-of-interest situations and do not receive safety support from their employers," said NUJP chairman Inday Espina- Varona.
The delegation traveled to General Santos City in Mindanao, Iloilo and Cebu in the Visayas and Legazpi in the Bicol region to meet with representatives of the Department of Justice, police officials, mayors, governors, victim's family members and a representative of the Commission on Human Rights.
The IFJ and the NUJP will request the Philippines government to reopen several of the cases based on the mission findings. A complete report documenting each case, the mission's findings and recommendations will be available next month.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries.
Government officials Monday snubbed a meeting with representatives of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) who just wrapped up a fact-finding mission on the rising number of journalist killed in the Philippines.
In a statement, the delegation led by senior Australian journalist Gerard Noonan and journalists from Indonesia and the Philippines expressed disappointment after Malacañang canceled a scheduled meeting with Arroyo administration officials.
The IFJ delegation is in the Philippines to investigate the rising number of journalists killed. As part of the mission, a meeting was set with representatives of President Arroyo but was unexpectedly canceled by Palace officials.
More than 50 journalists have been murdered in the Philippines since 1986 -- 13 were killed in 2004 alone, making the Philippines second only to Iraq for the number of journalists killed during the year.
On Sunday, the delegation announced at a press conference in Manila that a widespread culture of violence tolerated by authorities is behind the high death toll.
"When such a culture is allowed to flourish at an official level, it is little wonder that aggrieved local strongmen or political figures turn to hit men to get even with the media," said Noonan.
Poor working conditions of journalists and the lack of safety support from employers were also reported by the delegation as being contributing factors to the high death toll.
"Vast numbers of journalists are receiving a pittance or nothing at all for their work. They are being exploited and sometimes forced into conflict-of-interest situations and do not receive safety support from their employers," said NUJP chairman Inday Espina- Varona.
The delegation traveled to General Santos City in Mindanao, Iloilo and Cebu in the Visayas and Legazpi in the Bicol region to meet with representatives of the Department of Justice, police officials, mayors, governors, victim's family members and a representative of the Commission on Human Rights.
The IFJ and the NUJP will request the Philippines government to reopen several of the cases based on the mission findings. A complete report documenting each case, the mission's findings and recommendations will be available next month.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries.
posted by Joe Torres @ 2:44 AM
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