Increased attacks on media freedom in Burma raise human rights fears

YOU ARE HERE: Home » All Entries, Press Releases & Statements » Increased attacks on media freedom in Burma raise human rights fears

PUBLISHED ON October 2, 2007 AT 10:38 AM

Burma: Foreign companies finance brutal regime

Burma: No Rights Reform 20 Years After Massacre

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expresses its shock and concern over the worsening human rights conditions and media freedom and safety in Burma. On September 28 the military’s attempts to suppress peaceful pro-democratic protests resulted in several deaths and many injuries, including the death of Japanese photojournalist, Kenji Nagai.

Flows of news within Burma and abroad have slowed considerably in the past week, and foreign news correspondents have become victim to harassment and attacks by the military.

Reporters Without Borders has estimated that in the past week four journalists have disappeared and 10 others have been injured.

IFJ shares Reporters Without Borders’ concern that Burma’s strategy of targeting the media and the free flow of information to other countries could ultimately reproduce the outcome of the 1988 protests, where the massacre of around 3,000 protesters did not reach the outside world until after the bloodshed was over.

“The presence of free media in Burma is more important than ever, as it keeps the Burmese government in the international spotlight and holds them accountable,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said. “The world was too late in preventing the horrific outcome of the 1988 protests due to a lack of media coverage and access to information from within Burma.

“The junta must not be permitted to cut off Burma from media coverage and international scrutiny, lest we learn of greater human right abuses and murders only after these events.”

Other attempts from the Burmese government to target the media and isolate the country include the closure of internet cafes and disconnecting access to the internet on September 28, as well as the closure of some Burmese publications after they refused to publish government propaganda.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 114 countries

IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to PinoyPress for publication. Please email your materials to pinoypress @ gmail.com. PinoyPress is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of PinoyPress and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.

RSS feed • Subscribe via email • Discuss

TAGS

THE NEWS IN PICTURES

Displaced. Residents of North Cotabato have been the ones badly affected by the military offensives launched against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "As the government continues to indiscriminately drop bombs on Moro and Christian villages in Aleosan and Pikit, more and more civilians are displaced," said Kawagib, a Moro human-rights group.(Photo: Suara Bangsamoro/arkibongbayan.org)

In One Roof. Villagers who fled their homes after the clashes last week between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south brought every human life with them, including their farm animals. They now live under one roof at an evacuation center in Pikit, North Cotabato. (Photo: Bong Sarmiento / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project)

Emergency. A scene from "Ambulancia," a short film that tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets. The award-winning film will be screened at the so-called "Woodstock of short films" in Germany. Richard Legaspi directed the film and it stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo. (Contributed photo)

Sendoff. The Philippine Army dispatched today, Aug. 10, the 68th Infantry Battalion to Maguindanao. This battalion, together with the 46th Infantry Battalion from Samar, will augment the troops in Central Mindanao for the security operations that will be conducted to ensure peaceful elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao tomorrow. (Photo: Philippine Army)

Killings Denounced. Mindanao journalists gathered in General Santos City on Friday to denounce the recent attacks on their colleagues. On Monday, Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network commentator in General Santos, was shot and is fighting for his life. On Thursday, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas of Capiz City, was shot dead. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

If This Wall Could Talk. With the pleasant scenery as a backdrop (and a constant reminder, perhaps, of a life they could have had), this poor family try to survive by actually living by the sidewalk outside the Chinese school in Davao City. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Undaunted. Activists from Anakbayan scuffle with the police as the Chevrolet Suburban carrying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo passes by the junction before the newly built Bankerohan bridge in Davao City last week. The president was in the city for the declaration of the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi parties. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Freedom Denied. Lex Adonis, a former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo in Davao City, inside the Davao Penal Colony, where he was jailed after House Speaker Prospero Nograles sued him for libel over a story involving the Davao congressman's alleged sexual relations with a woman other than his wife. Despite a court order, Adonis remains in jail. (File photo by davaotoday.com)

Tribute to Ka Bel. Activists, artists, friends and supporters troop to the Philippine Independent Church on Taft Avenue Monday night to honor AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week. Beltran will be buried in Bulacan today, after a ceremony honoring him at the House of Representatives, where he served for several terms as party-list congressman. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/pinoypress.net)

Rare Sight. Moro women students of a madrasah play volleyball during a break in barangay Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, last week. While Filipina Moros are considered relatively open in their lifestyle compared to Muslim women in other countries, scenes like this are not very common in Moro areas in Mindanao. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)

Ka Bel's Fight. An activist mourns the death of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, who died Tuesday. Ka Bel's remains lie in state at the IFI Cathedral in Manila. His colleagues, family and friends have lined up a series of tributes. Click here for the schedules, as well as statements and poems honoring Ka Bel. (Photo by courtesy of arkibongbayan)

Displaced. Lumad families from Compostela and Monkayo towns, in Compostela Valley Province, seek refuge in Davao City after being displaced by intense counter-insurgency operations by the military in their communities this month. The 210 evacuees, of which 83 are children, are now staying inside a gym. The number of evacuees is expected to rise, according to NGOs. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan)

Mangled and Mutilated. Rey Cayago, an activist who previously worked for the migrant group Migrante, has been found dead, his head cut off, his face and body mangled. Family and friends denounced the military for the atrocity; the armed forces had alleged that Cayago was a communist guerrilla who was killed in a firefight in the Cordilleras. But human-rights groups contend that even if Cayago were a rebel, what happened to him was "inexcusable" and a "blatant violation of the protocols of war." Click here for the story. (Photo courtesy of Bulatlat)

Increased attacks on media freedom in Burma raise human rights fears

Leave a Comment