Murder for the fear of the public
ExpiredSignificance of the Security Council Resolution on the safety of journalists
operating in war zones
Several internationally renowned journalists' associations, such as the International Press Freedom Organisation, World Association of Journalists and Reporters without Borders, have recently acknowledged the contribution of the French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and French diplomats in the United Nations Security Council passing of Resolution 1738. Such recognitions are neither easily nor frequently received, and in order to really deserve them one should do something really outstanding. In this case, there is no doubt that the award was well-deserved. The reason is the UN Security Council's Resolution 1738 on the protection of journalists operating in conflict areas. France has deserved this award as the initiator of the resolution, as the factual grounds for the adoption of the Resolution was the report on the risks faced by the reporters working in war zones, issued by French officials Pierre Lellouche and Francois Loncle , members of the French Parliament.
The report is actually a very serious warning about risks and dangers that reporters are exposed to. It is about threats, harassment, violence and danger, as well as the most brutal crimes. The tragic fact is that only last year 110 journalists were killed, and in the past decade a few hundreds of them have lost their lives, and it shows the dimensions of the risks faced by journalists on daily basis. The good thing is that the data provided in the report made the largest international organization to formally remind the states all over the world about of their obligations under the international law.
However, the message sent in the Resolution is also a reminder of the fact that journalists are not only victims of war. Even in peace, they are exposed to worst crimes. Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow, Guillermo Cano in Bogota, Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam, Veronika Cherkasova in Minsk, Jacques Roche in Port-au-Prince, Mohammed Taha in Cartum, Gustavo “El Gaba” Rojas in Medellin are but a few internationally known cases. Like hundreds of journalists worldwide, these were not war correspondents. They were journalists and that is why they were killed. What happened to them speaks about the phenomenon which, I dare say, is uglier and more horrendous than the one that was the subject of the Security Council's resolution.
The death of a war correspondent is usually a result of a tragic accident, a random effect of the exchange of fire between the sides in the conflict. The International Committee to Protect Journalists, for example, estimates that in Iraque, where a few dozen of journalists have died, only a third of them were killed intentionally. The Committee's research of the killings of journalists in peacetime shows that behind them, as a rule, is a criminal intent and that in 70 pct of cases the killings were a direct retribution for what the journalists were investigating, writing about, publicized or shown. The story does not end there. What causes serious concern is the fact that those committing the crimes against journalists often enjoy impunity. According to the criminal statistics a very small number of cases, maximum 15 pct, actually get resolved. Unfortunately, deaths of Slavko Curuvija, Milan Pantic, Dada Vujasinovic and Dusko Jovanovic show that we too fit into this disastrous group.
Murders of journalists show what a powerful tool of democratic control of the government can freedom of opinion and expression, of press and the media can be in standing up against abuse and crime, in fighting corruption. The willingness of murderers to kill shows it best. They do it in order to silence the individual who is exercising his/her freedoms as well as to warn others that they should not do the same. Regardless of whether their motives are “political”, “patriotic”, “commercial” or of another kind, they all have one thing in common - fear of the public.
In a transition country, the vast potential of the public will not become a real force just by the adoption of the information, broadcasting, free access to information and other laws that are based on democratic standards. The laws should be consistently applied. In addition to these, journalists who establish publicity should be provided with appropriate protection from all illegitimate constraints. This protection, in a broader sense means the obligation to find and punish the perpetrators of crimes against journalists.
The murder of Serbian journalist Slavko Curuvija has recently - finally - entered court procedure. Justice and truth have finally got their chance, whatever it may be. It has been a long time since Slavko Curuvija was murdered. The time has definitely taken its toll and this will not be an easy case. If the first chance is not used, the second one definitely must not be missed. If, for any reason, the perpetrators of the crime are not brought to justice, the truth about the tragic death of the journalist must be brought to the public. If neither happens, we will certainly not have many reasons for satisfaction, but at least we will know that we have made a step towards establishing the public similar to the public in developed democratic societies and so essential to us.
Commissioner for Information of Public Importance
