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Press Release
May 3, 2004
Press Freedom Day
Every year, May 3rd is dedicated to Press
Freedom, to remember and emphasize the importance of press freedom, which is
crucial for the functioning of a healthy democratic and free society.
The Israeli Forces celebrated the Press
Freedom Day yesterday by attacking a radio station in Gaza. The attack of the
building left four Palestinians injured. The PHRMG condemns this attack
because it is a violation against media and press.
Since al-Aqsa Intifada, six journalists (4 Palestinians and 2
foreigners) were killed by Israeli Forces just for doing their jobs or
expressing their opinions. This is our reality
in media, and the magnitude of suffering journalists face while on duty. It
reflects the difficult stage of abuses against the profession of journalism at
this phase of the Palestinian struggle to obtain their own independent and free
press.
On April 24, 2004, the Israeli forces shot the journalist Ali Smoudi in Jenin. The PHRMG is
concerned about attacks against journalists and considers it a violation
against freedom of the press.
In addition, there are journalists who are
arrested and jailed. Zeeb Hourani
is one of the journalists arrested by the Israeli army on January 9, 2004. The PHRMG condemns the arrest of journalists and
considers it an Israeli violence against the Palestinian press. If a
journalist cannot express himself, then the PHRMG must ask: Where is the “democracy”
Israel claims to have?
There is also Palestinian violence against
the press. Recent attacks on the press have been more anarchic, perpetrated
by unknown assailants, or militants, loosely affiliated with political
factions. On January 8, 2004, al Arabiya’s Gaza correspondent Seifeddin Shahin was beaten at
gunpoint by masked individuals. Although it remains unclear who was
responsible for this violent attack, Shahin has
repeatedly been harassed by members of Fatah for
his coverage of internal divisions in the movement. In 2003, he was arrested
on an official order from Arafat and detained for 24 hours. Shahin himself believes the root cause of Palestinian
internal violence lies in the high echelons of political authority. For fear
of losing their prestige and influence, key figures pull the strings to
ensure further violence. In this manner they can guarantee and safeguard
their power and control.
In addition, on September 13, 2003, armed individuals affiliated with the al
Aqsa Martyr’s Brigades attacked the al Arabiya
Channel in Ramallah. Later, however, al Aqsa denied
the attack and accused the perpetrators of violating the “national consensus”.
In another instance, three armed and masked
men broke into the al Quds Educational TV offices
in Ramallah on February 2nd, threatened
the editors and destroyed the equipment. On February 13th the car
of al Hayat al Jadida’s Gaza bureau chief was
set on fire by unknown arsonists, most likely because of his critical
coverage of the internal Palestinian situation. Also in February, the offices
of the weekly al-Dar (Gaza) were ransacked. In
response to this increase in violence against press members, 200 journalists
protested at the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza on February 15
February demanding more PA protection. In some cases, attacks on the press are
motivated by personal economic insecurity. At the beginning of March 2004 for
example, masked men broke into the Palestinian broadcasting offices to demand
jobs.
The PHRMG is concerned about the increase in
attacks against the journalists. These increased attacks on journalists are linked
to growing political instability and negligence of the security forces.
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