Director-General Condemns Murder of Philippine Journalist Nelson Nadura
05-12-2003 ()
UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura today condemned the murder of Nelson Nadura, a journalist of Radio DYME in Masbate City, in the central Philippines on Wednesday. Mr Matsuura, however, welcomed a pledge by Philippine President Gloria Macagapal Arroyo to ensure that the murder of journalists in the country does not continue to go unpunished.
Shortly after the murder, Mrs Macapagal Arroyo declared that attacks on members of the press will not go unpunished.
“I condemn the murder of Nelson Nadura,” declared the Director-General of UNESCO, recalling that Mr Nadura was the fifth journalist killed in the Philippines this year.
Mr Matsuura added: “I trust that all necessary action will be taken by the competent authorities to ensure that this cowardly crime is punished. Indeed,” he added, “it is crucial that action be taken to deter such crimes, which strike at democracy and governance. I hope that the President’s resolve will help provide safe working conditions to the profession which has paid all too heavy a tribute to the fundamental human right of freedom of expression with more than 40 deaths since the country’s return to democracy in 1986.”
In 1997, UNESCO’s Member States adopted a resolution to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against journalists. Recognizing freedom of expression as a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Resolution invites the Director-General of UNESCO “to condemn assassination and any physical violence against journalists as a crime against society, since this curtails freedom of expression and, as a consequence, the other rights and freedoms set forth in international human rights instruments”. It further urges “the competent authorities [to] discharge their duty of preventing, investigating and punishing such crimes and remedying their consequences.”
“I condemn the murder of Nelson Nadura,” declared the Director-General of UNESCO, recalling that Mr Nadura was the fifth journalist killed in the Philippines this year.
Mr Matsuura added: “I trust that all necessary action will be taken by the competent authorities to ensure that this cowardly crime is punished. Indeed,” he added, “it is crucial that action be taken to deter such crimes, which strike at democracy and governance. I hope that the President’s resolve will help provide safe working conditions to the profession which has paid all too heavy a tribute to the fundamental human right of freedom of expression with more than 40 deaths since the country’s return to democracy in 1986.”
In 1997, UNESCO’s Member States adopted a resolution to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against journalists. Recognizing freedom of expression as a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Resolution invites the Director-General of UNESCO “to condemn assassination and any physical violence against journalists as a crime against society, since this curtails freedom of expression and, as a consequence, the other rights and freedoms set forth in international human rights instruments”. It further urges “the competent authorities [to] discharge their duty of preventing, investigating and punishing such crimes and remedying their consequences.”
Related themes/countries
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2003
· Philippines: News Archive 2003
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