Record number of journalists killed in 2009
GENEVA: A record 121 journalists were killed in 25 countries in 2009, an increase of 33 percent from last year, said a press freedom watchdog, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) on Tuesday.
“On average 10 journalists were killed per month by armed groups, criminal groups, governments and terrorists,” said Press Emblem Campaign Secretary General Blaise Lempen. “Others were kidnapped or exiled and in many cases silenced while impunity continues.”
The year also marked the “worst massacre of journalists in history,” when 31 journalists were killed in November during an attack on an electoral convoy in southern Philippines’ Maguindanao province.
The Philippines had the highest media casualty numbers, and together with Mexico, Somalia, Pakistan, Russia and Iraq accounted for two-thirds of the casualty count in 2009. In Mexico, 13 journalists were killed amid the battle against drug trafficking, while in Somalia, nine were killed in cross fire and terrorist attacks. In Russia, seven journalists were slain, “mostly related to the conflict in the Caucuses”.
Source: Daily Times
Date:1/6/2010
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