26 journalists killed since the beginning of the year 2009

The first two months of the year have been particularly deadly for journalists: 26 have been killed in the exercise of their functions (they were 16 in January and February 2008) declared Monday NGO Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).

•     Fifteen journalists were killed in January and eleven in February, according to the Geneva-based NGO, which campaigns for better protection of journalists in conflict zones.
  
      “Far from improving, the situation is deteriorating,” deplored the general secretary of the PEC Blaise Lempen. Last year, 91 journalists were killed while doing their job", he recalled.
  
      According to NGOs, since the beginning of the year, the largest number of victims has been identified in Ghaza during the Israeli offensive (04) and Pakistan (04). Then Somalia (02), Russia (02), Mexico (02), Sri Lanka (02), Nepal (02), Venezuela (02) and Iraq (02). One victim has been identified in Kenya, the Philippines, Madagascar and Colombia.
  
      Apart from the period of the Israeli offensive against the Ghaza Strip, “the death of journalists was clearly associated with situations of internal conflict,” said Lempen.
  
      The president of the PEC Hedayat Abdel Nabi has launched an appeal to the Council on Human Rights of the United Nations to hold a special event on the protection of journalists at its June session.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.