Freedom of E X P R E S S ION &
impunity campaign

CAMPAIGN TO CHALLENGE IMPUNITY WAS LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER 2002
AT THE BIENNIAL MEETING OF THE WRITERS IN PRISON COMMITTEE OF INTERNATIONAL IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO. CANADA IS LEADING THE EFFORT lN PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERNATIONAL WRITERS IN PRISON COMMITTEE, AMERICAN CENTRE, AND MEXICO.

Freedom of Expression and Impunity Campaign
<> SILENCING THE MESSENGER:-THE MURDER OF WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of a flourishing democracy. All citizens must be able to
express themselves without hindrance on any matter and through any medium.

The works to promote and protect this right across the globe and notes that the threat to this right is
strong today as it was when the organization's work began in 1921.

Nowhere is this threat more pronounced than in the continued murder of writers and journalists every year . because of their work. In many countries individuals who make a living through the written word are deliberately targeted by those who seek to silence them. They are often killed because their investigations and criticism have exposed those in power thereby threatening their positions of influence. (Some were even murdered to prevent them from reporting on sensitive issues.)

Many reporters investigate cases of corruption that involve public officials or business figures. Journalists and writers have also spoken out against military officials or criminal elements such as drug traffickers. Local reporters covering crime, corruption and human rights-violations are especially vulnerable particularly in countries where conflict is widespread and impunity is the'norm. Over the past ten years It has recorded the murders of more than 400 writers. journalists and media workers.
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(1) Gerardo Bedoya, Colombia: The editor and journalist for the Cali daily El PaIs was gunned down at point blank range in 1997 by an unknown assailant. Those said to be responsible for the murder were elements withi~ Cali's drug carteL Bedoya had been an outspoken critic of ' drug lords in;theregion. More than five years later, his murder remains unsolved.

(2) Edgar Damalerio, Philippines: On May '13, 2002, ' two men on motorcycles shot dead the 34"':year-old . journalist in Pagadian, Mindanao Island, as he was driving from a press conference. Damalerio, 'who had inves- , tigated corruption among local police and politicians, had previously received death threats. The ensuing investigation has failed to identify those responsible. In addition, witnesses have been threatened and, in one case. killed.

(3) Nasser Zarafshan, Iran: The noted attorney and writer was sentenced in 2002 to five years' imprison- ' ment and fifty lashes for "disseminating state secrets and the possession of firearms and alcohol." Zarafshan was legal representative for the relatives of two of the families of Iranian writers and journalists murdered in 1998, His conviction is believed to be for his criticism of the official investigation into the murders and also as a means of silencing others who seek the truth behind the killings.

Impunity: the problem
One phenomenon noticed in many countries is that public institutions designeq to act as checks on authorities are still weak. As a result, the media have assumed this role by bringing to light illegal or abusive acts previously unnoticed, ignored or perpetuated by authorities. In other countries, the lack of a political opposition leaves authoritarian regimes unchallenged. Consequently, the press has become the voice of critical views, filling the void left by the absence of political parties or organized opposition groups.

Those responsible for the murder of writers and journalists are many. Be ther members of organized crime, corrupt politicians and public officials, the military or rebel forces, they are universally intolerant of the countervailing power of the written Word and set out to silence opposing or dissenting voices .

The fact that very few of these cases are solved points to official involvement in the crimes In addition, investigations when they do take place, are often impeded by threats, corruption and indifference;
As long as authorities in such countries remain incapable of carrying out serious impartial and effective investigations that lead to the identification and punishment of those responsible for the murder of writers and journalists, the number of cases solved will continue to be alarmingly low.

I believes that the judicial system in such countries must be capable of eliminating human rights abuses and putting an end to impunity around the world, as long as the international community accepts the continued killing of writers and journalists, and the de-facto amnesty granted to their killers
there can be no real freedom of expression, no right to life and no respect for any human rights.

Challenging impunity In order to fight for justice in the cases of murdered journalists and writers, they marked International Human Rights Day last December 10 by announcing a year-long campaign to challenge impunity for violations of the right to freedom of expression. The initiative will include direct actions throughout the year and will culminate with the release of and on the problem of impunity and a series of public programs during International 69th World Congress of Writers in Mexico City in November 2003.
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