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African Journalists Launch
FAJ, Condemn Repression of the Media
Leaders of the African
journalists’ trade unions and associations which gathered in Abuja,
Nigeria from November 12 to 14, 2007 for the African Journalists
Congress launched the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) to act as
the representative voice of journalists in the media in Africa.
The Federation pledged to
deal with all matters relating to freedom of expression and the social
and professional rights of journalists under the guidance and
association of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
At the end of the Congress
which had the theme: “Building a Strong and United Voice for African
Journalists,” FAJ adopted a declaration in which it condemned “without
reservation all violations of journalists’ rights and the repression of
the media that are carried out on the continent of Africa”.
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua,
represented by the Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. John
Ogar Odey, declaring the Conference open during the opening ceremonies,
urged African leaders to ensure the enactment and implementation of the
Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) for the survival of democracy in the
continent.
President Yar’Adua said
"African continent must have a re-think by completely imbibing the
spirit and tenet of democracy, by allowing the freedom of expression,
association and promotion of fundamental human rights".
Condemning impunity against
journalists, he promised that his administration will not tolerate any
violations against the media.
Ndagene Akwu, President of
the Nigerian Union of Journalist in his welcome address pointed out that
the theme reflected the issues of trade unionism in media industry in
Africa, adding that African journalists will discuss obnoxious media
laws in the continent and all forms of impunity against media
professional saying they are encumbrances that must be removed and
immediately if African countries are to enjoy free an independent media.
Mr. Akwu called on the
government of President Yar’Adua to be more proactive by pushing through
the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and on other African
Countries that are yet to have the Freedom of Information Law to
initiate the process without delay.
He noted that the Yar’Adua
led Government was yet to have any record of impunity against any
members of the Association. “We are however happy that the present
regime of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is yet to record any case of impunity
against our members”, he said.
Akwu said that the Africa
Continent was under stress and many countries have become failed States
adding that it behoves on journalists
to come together and assiduously contribute their quota towards
repositioning Africa for the urgently desired development, because the
business of politics and governance was too delicate to be left in the
hands of the politician alone.
The journalists noted that
the formation of the FAJ was the outcome of the resolution of the
African journalists’ unions and associations at the regional meetings in
Rabat in 2006, and the planning meeting in Dakar in 2007, at which it
was resolved that African affiliates to the International Federation of
Journalists should establish the Federation of African Journalists in
order to defend social and professional rights of journalists and to
support freedom of media throughout the continent of Africa.
The Federation said it
believes that it is urgent for journalists and media staff to work
together to meet the challenges facing all workers in defence of social,
professional and gender rights, and the struggle for media freedom in
Africa.
It reaffirmed the commitment
of the journalists, through their trade unions and associations, to
participate in poverty reduction strategies and media development on the
continent.
The Federation pledged to
campaign for trade union rights for journalists; defend freedom of
expression and the professional independence of journalists; co-ordinate
actions to improve the safety and security of journalists; seek to
ensure that the voice of African journalists is heard in all discussions
on the defence of media freedom and journalists’ rights; and campaign
for the inclusion of media development programmes, amongst others.
The FAJ declaration titled
“The Countries that Shame Africa” condemned all forms of media
repressions and added that it protested over and repudiated “the actions
of governments and authorities that shame Africa and who make a mockery
of commitments to pluralism and democracy when they” ‘prosecute and
jail’; intimidate and threaten’ journalists; fail to properly
investigate physical and violent attacks on journalists; and encourage a
culture of impunity and lawlessness.
It called on the African
Union and the United Nations Human Rights Commissioners to investigate,
expose and take appropriate action against countries that are in
violation of the fundamental rights of the people of Africa; and on the
African Union Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression in Africa to
examine closely and to report on the actions of all governments
including those of Somalia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Senegal. Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Niger, Gambia, Tunisia,
Egypt, Swaziland where there have been credible reports of serious
violations of journalists’ rights.
The FAJ promised to work in
close collaboration with the IFJ and regional press freedom monitoring
groups to prepare a comprehensive continental report on the actions of
African governments that violate the rights of journalists.
The FAJ supports and includes
within its network the Western African Journalists Association (WAJA),
the Southern African Journalists Association (SAJA), the Central African
Union of Journalists (CAUJ), the Northern African Network of Journalists
(NANJ) and the Eastern African Journalists Association (EAJA).
Click on this link to read
the full text of the Declaration of
the Federation of African Journalists
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