In this bulletin:
1.Journalist in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province Murdered
2.IFJ Demands Investigation into Murder of Philippines Broadcaster
3.Afghan Reporter Killed in Oruzgan Province
4.IFJ Joins Australian Journalists in Mourning Loss of News Crew
5.Swift Action Urged to Locate Abducted Journalist in Pakistan
6.Solidarity for Press Freedom Mission to Jaffna
7.Call to Uphold Press Freedom in Hong Kong
8.Call for Applications: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowships
1.Journalist in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province Murdered
The IFJ was alarmed to learn of the killing of another journalist in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on August 14.
According to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Muneer Shakir was attacked by unknown persons who opened
fire on him at 12.20pm as he headed home from the press club in Khuzdar, in central Balochistan. Shakir died at District
Headquarters Hospital in Khuzdar. Shakir, who was aged in his early 30s, worked for Online News Network and was a
correspondent with Balochi television station Sabzbaat. Members of the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) reported
that Shakir was not known to have received any threats.
2.IFJ Demands Investigation into Murder of Philippines Broadcaster
The IFJ joined its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in calling for an immediate
investigation into the murder of broadcaster Niel “Lito” Jimena in Negros Occidental province in the Western Visayas
region of the Philippines on August 23. Jimena was shot five times by unknown assailants. Sources cited in local media
reports suggested his murder is not related to his work as a broadcaster. Police are yet to establish a motive.
3.Afghan Reporter Killed in Oruzgan Province
The IFJ joined its affiliate the Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association (AIJA) in condemning the killing of
journalist Ahmad Omaid Khpalwak in an armed attack in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan on July 28. Khpalwak, 25,
a reporter with the BBC Pashto Service, Pajhwok Afghan News Agency and the state broadcaster Radio Television of
Afghanistan (RTA), was killed in Tarin Kowt, the capital of the troubled province. Up to 19 people were killed and 37
others injured in a coordinated triple bomb blast and shooting attack near the city’s market and the local RTA offices.
4.IFJ Joins Australian Journalists in Mourning Loss of News Crew
The IFJ joined the Australian Media Alliance and journalism community in expressing great sadness to learn of the deaths
of a highly respected three-man reporting team for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Senior journalist Paul
Lockyer, cameraman John Bean and pilot Gary Ticehurst died when their helicopter crashed near Lake Eyre on the evening
of August 18. The IFJ joins the Alliance in offering sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the
three men, all of whom earned the respect of their industry for their work, their commitment and their compassion.
5.Swift Action Urged to Locate Abducted Journalist in Pakistan
The IFJ joined the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in demanding authorities in Pakistan take swift action
to locate and safely recover a senior tribal journalist who was abducted in North Waziristan on August 11. Rehmatullah
Dawar, who works with AAJ TV and the Urdu daily Ausaf, was abducted at a bazaar in Miranshah, the capital of the militancy-gripped agency in the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA), by unidentified men travelling in two cars with tinted windows. The men fired shots in the air to
keep people away as they bundled Dawar into one of the cars, according to reports. The motivation for the abduction is
unclear, and no one has claimed responsibility.
6.Solidarity for Press Freedom Mission to Jaffna
The IFJ welcomed a mission to Jaffna by affiliate the Free Media Movement (FMM) and other partner organisations in Sri
Lanka, between August 15 and 17. A team of activists from FMM travelled to Jaffna in the northern province of Sri Lanka
with several other media freedom organisations. On August 16, the team from Colombo joined local groups in a protest
demonstration commencing at Jaffna’s main bus stand. The team made inquiries after the health of Gnanasundaram
Kuhanathan, news editor of the Tamil daily Uthayan, who was brutally attacked while on his way home in Jaffna on July 29.
7.Call to Uphold Press Freedom in Hong Kong
The IFJ delivered an open letter to Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen after a series of incidents in the
Special Administrative Region since July 1. Several press freedom violations were reported during the Hong Kong visit of
Chinese First Vice Premier Li Keqiang in August. The response of Hong Kong police and restrictions on media coverage by
the Government Information Office were questioned by the IFJ and its affiliate, the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association,
in a special meeting of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Panel. The IFJ expressed concerns that police in Hong Kong are
employing similar tactics as those used by security personnel on the mainland.
8.Call for Applications: Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowships
The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program at the Washington, D.C. based National Endowment for Democracy invites
applications for 2012-2013 fellowships. This federally-funded program enables democracy activists, practitioners,
scholars, and journalists from around the world to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to
promote democratic change. Dedicated to international exchange, this five-month, residential program offers a collegial
environment for fellows to reflect on their experiences and consider best practices; conduct independent research and
writing; engage with colleagues and counterparts in the United States; and develop professional relationships within a
global network of democracy advocates.
Deadline for applications: November 1, 2011.
For more information see http://www.ned.org/fellowships/reagan-fascell-democracy-fellows-program.
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ENDS