Though in the trade of war…
Ten journalists have died in the conflict
in Iraq, three of them in the last 24 hours. Two are still
missing.
The majority have been broadcasters:
cameramen and reporters. All of them were veterans of other
conflicts. They had covered human suffering and misery in Albania,
Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia. All of them recognized the
risks of their assignments and all of them had prepared for this
assignment - their last as it turns out.
Journalists are willing to take these risks
because they are convinced that human discourse is only possible if
societies can judge by facts. Newsmen and women like those who died
in the past few days are the indispensable interpreters of the
facts and images of war and peace.
Wars claim many innocent victims, but we
have a special duty towards those who chose to put themselves in
harm’s way for an ideal: an informed society.
The organizations below therefore
call upon all parties in this conflict to respect the work of all
journalists and to safeguard their lives.
Click here for the press release.
