UNESCO Condemns Murder of Reporter in Pakistan, Welcoming Efforts to Punish the Crime
03-02-2004 (Paris)
UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura yesterday condemned the murder of Pakistani journalist Sajid Tanoli of the Urdu language daily Shumaal in Mansehra, in northwestern Pakistan on January 29.
“The murder of Sajid Tanoli, who was killed after naming the Mayor of Mansehra in a report on alcohol trafficking,” said the Director-General, “is a tragic illustration of the conflict of interests between crime on the one hand and press freedom, a natural ally of good governance and rule of law, on the other.”
Mr Matsuura went on to say that “it is vital for democracy that the media be allowed to do their work freely, and that those resorting to violence to muzzle the press be brought to justice and punished, in keeping with the resolution adopted to that effect by UNESCO’s Member States at the Organization’s General Conference in 1997.”
“In keeping with the spirit of this resolution,” the Director General said, “I welcome the arrest of the murderer’s alleged accomplices and trust that the authorities will do all in their power to ensure that the crime does not go unpunished.”
(Source: Press Release No.2004-08)
Mr Matsuura went on to say that “it is vital for democracy that the media be allowed to do their work freely, and that those resorting to violence to muzzle the press be brought to justice and punished, in keeping with the resolution adopted to that effect by UNESCO’s Member States at the Organization’s General Conference in 1997.”
“In keeping with the spirit of this resolution,” the Director General said, “I welcome the arrest of the murderer’s alleged accomplices and trust that the authorities will do all in their power to ensure that the crime does not go unpunished.”
(Source: Press Release No.2004-08)
Related themes/countries
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2004
· Pakistan: News Archive 2004
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