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From the IFEX "COMMUNIQUE" # 7-1                        6 January 1998

IFJ CONDEMNS MURDERS OF AT LEAST 50 JOURNALISTS IN 1997;

HIGHLIGHTS THREATS TO LATIN AMERICAN MEDIA

On 22 December 1997, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
released its annual report which records the murders in 1997 of at least 50
journalists and media workers in yet another year of "Murder, intimidation
and censorship." The IFJ has documented the confirmed murders of 47
journalists, with another 15 cases under investigation. The IFJ notes that
while the death toll of journalists in war zones has fallen in the past few
years, investigative journalists remain a prime target for aggression. The
report also notes that "in Latin America the number of journalists killed
has trebled in a wave of violence motivated by political terrorists, corrupt
politicians and the drugs mafia." In particular, 21 journalists were killed
last year in Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Columbia and Brazil combined. "Whether
covering corrupt local politicians, exposing the drugs underworld, or simply
reporting on the movement for peace, these journalists put their lives on
the line for decent, professional and ethical journalism," says IFJ General
Secretary Aidan White.

The IFJ notes that "behind the figures lies a pattern of systematic violence
and intimidation." For example, in Peru last year there were four killings
of media workers (two still under investigation) in addition to 15 assaults,
21 cases of journalists threatened and 16 journalists prosecuted or jailed
for their work. The IFJ will highlight the crisis facing journalists in
Latin America at its 23rd Congress in Brazil in May 1998. Noting that 1998
is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the IFJ plans to mark the event with a solidarity memorial to
colleagues in Latin America.

Although the IFJ says "the professional integrity of journalists in the West
has recently come under public scrutiny," it says its report highlights "the
crucial and hazardous role journalists play in support of democracy." The
IFJ report documents "shootings by separatists in Kashmir, grenade attacks
by political extremists in Cambodia and government or mafia-led killings in
Russia where eight journalists were killed, with another five cases under
investigation."

The IFJ has drafted an international code of practice for journalists and
media organisations to eliminate risks to their profession. "We cannot
guarantee the lives of journalists against determined, brutal and ruthless
killers, but journalists and media organisations can do more to improve
journalists' conditions and to eliminate unnecessary risk-taking," says
White. For further information, contact Oliver Money-Kyrle, Acting Human
Rights Officer, at the IFJ at Rue Royale, 266, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium,
tel:+322 219 7780, fax:+322 219 2976, e-mail: ifj.safety@pophost.eunet.be.
The full report is available on the IFJ Web site at
http://www.ifj.org/hrights/killlist.html.

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The IFEX Communique is published weekly in English, French and Spanish by
the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) Clearing House. The
facility is operated by the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists (CCPJ)
in partnership with the member organizations of IFEX. Contact the IFEX CH at
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be viewed on the IFEX Internet Service at: http://www.ifex.org/communique.
Communique Editor: Kristina Stockwood. Subscriptions are available free or
through voluntary donation by e-mail and surface mail. The views expressed
in the Communique are the responsibility of the sources to which they are
attributed.
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___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard             Agencia Informativa Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.net/amarc/pulsar.html
Fono/Fax: +593-2-501 180 o 551 674
Fax en Montreal, Canada: +1-514-221-2009
Av. Atahualpa 333, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador