10. 07. 2005

40 JOURNALISTS KILLED SO FAR IN 2005

BELGRADE, July 10, 2005 – 2005 is turning out to be another deadly year for journalists. According to the statistics of the International Press Institute (IPI), 40 journalists, in particular those investigating corruption, drug trafficking and other illegal activities, have been killed so far this year. At least 11 journalists and media staffers have died in Iraq alone, six were killed in the Philippines and two each in Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico, Pakistan and Somalia. Journalists were also murdered in nine other countries – in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Russia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The list of countries with the recorded murders of journalists however did not include Kosovo. Journalist of Bota sot Bardilj Ajeti had died last month in an Italian hospital where he was treated after the attempted murder. He was shot from a moving vehicle on June 3, near the village Bresalce in East Kosovo. According to the Institute’s statistics, the number of killed journalists increases each year (with respect to 1999, when 89 victims were recorded) – in 1997 the number of killed journalists was 28; 1998 – 50; 2000 – 56; 2001 – 55; 2002 – 54; 2003 – 64 and 2004 – 78. Speaking about this deadly trend against journalists, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said that many journalists were accidentally caught in the cross-fire when reporting on various conflicts, while many more were deliberately targeted. “Most of these attacks ware committed with impunity. All too often, there is little or no evidence to suggest that the authorities are taking decisive action to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these heinous crimes.” Fritz called this failure of governments around the world to ensure immediate and thorough investigation into these killings unacceptable. Several journalists were killed in Serbia and Montenegro in last few years. Murderers of journalists Milan Pantic and Slavko Curuvija are still unknown, the death of Dada Vujasinovic still unsolved, while the court trial for murder of Dusko Jovanovic in Podgorica is still in procedure. Beside Ajeti, journalist Bekim Kastrati, Ajeti’s newsroom colleague, was killed in Kosovo in 2002, and before him, Sefki Popova, journalist of Rilindja.