Special report – 3 May 2011
Ramallah - 03/05/2011: Today we observe World Press Freedom Day which serves as a reminder of the dire state of freedom of expression and opinion in the occupied Palestinian territories, indicated by the dramatic increase in the number of violations committed against journalists in the past year.
Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) director, Mousa Rimawi, today said that in the first 4 months of this year 82 violations against Palestinian journalists occurred, 31 of these violations were committed by Israeli occupation forces and settlers, with the remaining 51 violations perpetrated by Palestinian security forces in the West Bank and Gaza. This unprecedented increase in Palestinian perpetrated violations stand in stark contrast to 2010, when, in the same period, MADA monitored 69 violations, 57 of which were committed by Israeli occupation forces; which marks an increase from 17% to 62% of all committed violations perpetrated by Palestinian forces.
Rimawi expressed his hope that the upcoming reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, scheduled tomorrow 4 May 2011 in Cairo, will foster an end to violations of media freedoms committed by the Palestinian security services, expedite the re-distribution of three daily newspapers Al-Hayat Al-Jadedah, Al-Quds, Al-Ayyam in Gaza and Falasteen and Al-Resalah newspapers in the West Bank. This slated reconciliation brings with it hopes that all media outlets will be able to operate freely, safely and without politically imposed restrictions.
March events
The month of March witnessed 34 violations against journalists, with the majority occurring in the Gaza Strip where journalists have faced harsh restrictions and encounters while covering the demonstrations demanding an end to the internal divisions between Fatah and Hamas in mid-March, and the marches commemorating Land Day in late March.
Palestinian women journalists in Gaza were subject specific targeting during March and hazarded attack, verbal abuse, and detention while in the line of duty. The numbers of the violations committed against women journalists in 2011 have seen a substantial increase.
40 attacks in four months
Of the 82 violations monitored so far this year, almost half are incidences physical attacks. Despite the considerable threat to their lives and wellbeing journalists continue to be attacked while covering events. In the past four months MADA Center has monitored 40 attacks against journalists, an average of 10 attacks per month.
Israeli occupation forces committed 18 attacks, with 22 committed by Palestinian security services; however, despite this increase in Palestinian security service perpetrated attacks, Israeli attacks remain the most violent and pose the most danger to journalists’ lives.
Vittoria Arrigoni
The brutal murder of the Italian journalist and writer Vittorio Arrigoni by an armed Palestinian group in Gaza, sent shockwaves to fellow journalists and the Palestinian public alike. Arrigoni spent three years living in Gaza, and expressed unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people through his writings and participation in numerous solidarity activities with the people of the Gaza Strip.
MADA wishes again to express it condemnation of the murder of Arrigoni and issues a demand that the Hamas government in Gaza exercises transparency by publishing all relevant details of the investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Paid holiday for journalists
MADA wishes to send its heartfelt congratulations to journalists across the globe in celebration of Press Freedom Day, with particular thanks to Palestinian journalists in their on-going determination to perform their professional duty with skill and dignity in the face of daily risks and restrictions. MADA additionally takes this opportunity to demand the designation of the 3rd of May a paid public holiday for Palestinian journalists.
The Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) demands a cessation to all attacks against journalists, and calls for observance of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in the occupied Palestinian territories. MADA additionally calls upon the international community to take serious and immediate steps to protect Palestinian journalists from repeated Israeli violations.
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Contact:
Riham Abu Aita
Public Relation Officer
Ramallah
riham@madacenter.org
HYPERLINK "http://www.madacenter.org"www.madacenter.org
00970 2 2976519
