Journalists
Announce International Day of Solidarity With Media
in Algeria.
International
journalists' groups and the supporters of change in
Algeria have announced an international day of solidarity
- October 24th - to highlight the growing crisis facing
independent journalism in Algeria. The International
Federation of Journalists announced the action following
an agreed declaration reached by journalists, press
freedom groups and supporters in a meeting in Brussels
today. The meeting decided that urgent action is needed
at the international level to bring the attention of
the international community to the growing media crisis
in Algeria in recent weeks, during which there have
been suspensions of newspapers, arrests of publishers
and leading journalists and a growing anxiety within
the independent media over political pressure in advance
of national elections next year.
Enclosed is
the declaration issued in Brussels:
The International
Federation of Journalists, the Association of Algerian
Journalists in Belgium, the Committee for the Support
of Democratic Rights in Algeria - Brussels Division
- and political representatives, which came together
today in Brussels, published the following declaration:
The
attacks and police harassment - judicial and financial
- being carried out against independent Algerian
media are unacceptable. After having focused on
the gravity of the situation facing Algerian journalists
and the media, the participants of the meeting decided
on a series of concrete actions:
On
24 October, a day of support and solidarity for
the Algerian press has been announced to take place
in Brussels. At this event, a delegation of Algerian
journalists will be invited by the IFJ to convene
in the capital of Europe.
The
development of a permanent structure, which will
monitor the progress of press freedom violations
and intimidation against journalists in Algeria.
A
detailed open letter will be sent by the IFJ to
European institutions, whereby these organisations
will be informed of the repressive measures taken
by the Algerian authorities against the freedom
of the press in Algeria. The attitude of the Algerian
government is contrary to agreements they have already
signed such as the EU/Algeria Association Agreement.
Several
trade union members of the IFJ have decided on their
part to initiate other actions in order to raise
public awareness of the situation in Algeria.
A
detailed report will be drafted and distributed
to the relevant representatives of the European
Union along with its Member States.
The IFJ represents
over 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries.
For further information,
contact the IFJ, International Press Center, Residence
Palace 155, Rue de la Loi - Bloc C, B-1040 Brussels,
Belgium, tel: +322 235 2200 or +322 235 22 01, fax:
+322 235 22 19, e-mail: safety@ifj.org, Internet: http://www.ifj.org/ |
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