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Media group criticises abuses
23/02/2003 12:46 - (SA)
Dhaka - The Commonwealth Journalists Association on Sunday protested ill treatment of reporters in Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, warning that torture had become a tool of interrogation in many member countries.
Closing a week-long conference attended by journalists from 23 countries, the association expressed concern at developments in Zimbabwe, saying the "human condition of the Zimbabwe people has worsened tragically" since the media group's last meeting in Nigeria in 2000.
"We decry the measures taken by the (President Robert) Mugabe government in legislative action and crass harassment to restrict further press freedom," a joint resolution said.
It expressed sadness at the November 2002 death of Mark Chavunduka, 37, who championed human rights and suffered "torture" at the hands of the military when he was arrested in 1999.
The Commonwealth group also criticised host Bangladesh, protesting against the "ill-treatment, including torture, of journalists and others, which went against freedom of expression".
But it acknowledged "the problems of the government of Bangladesh (faced) in addressing the increase in crime".
The conference was inaugurated by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who denounced what she said was a media campaign to defame her country, in particular by alleging it had become a haven for Islamic extremists.
The Commonwealth Journalists Association called on Bangladesh to release journalists held without specific charges.
"Such detention could be attributed to 'intimidation' and the honourable prime minister stated to this conference that the press in Bangladesh was free," the statement said.
It urged that journalists in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the Commonwealth be treated humanely if they make any unintentional mistake, and that nobody be jailed "on the basis of assumption."
The media group also expressed concern that torture was becoming "a feature of interrogation" in many places.
It said torture has gone unpunished "because of the impunity enjoyed by police and the military in a number of Commonwealth countries".
The journalists association decided during the silver jubilee conference here to relocate its headquarters from London to Trinidad and Tobago, although a small office would remain in the British capital.
The group elected a senior Bangladeshi journalist, Hassan Shahriar, as its head for three years. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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