International Federation of Journalists Journalists and Media Staff Killed in 2001 An IFJ Report on Media Casualties in the Field of Journalism and Newsgathering CONTENTS: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. COUNTRY BY COUNTRY ANALYSIS 3. CASES OF JOURNALISTS KILLED 4. CASES OF MEDIAWORKERS KILLED 5. CASES UNDER INVESTIGATION 6. INTERNATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE SAFE CONDUCT OF JOURNALISM Introduction The IFJ’s report into journalists and media workers killed during 2001 records exactly 100 confirmed killings and deaths under investigation – the highest for six years. Many of the victims died in war zones, others have been targeted by brutal assassins, others have been in the wrong place at the wrong time when a story is breaking. The number of media casualties provides a tragic reminder of the price we pay for press freedom and democracy. It is time for media companies to work together on new initiatives to reduce the risks facing their staff. We need more training, better equipment and provision of insurance for all, including freelance journalists. Large media groups – such as CNN, the BBC, Reuters and Associated Press – have shown leadership by defining a code of practice to improve safety for journalists. The IFJ is looking for an industry-wide response that gives all players – small media and freelance workers included – access to the benefits of risk-awareness training. This year journalists have been living in the shadow of terrorism and war. Eight journalists have been killed in Afghanistan while another seven media staff were among the 4,000 victims who perished in New York on September 11. Every region of the world has been touched by the worsening problems of safety. The report covers killings in 38 countries. The IFJ has highlighted the cases of journalists assassinated by political gangsters or terrorists including Martin O’Hagan, an investigative reporter for the Dublin-based Sunday World, who was gunned down in September. He is the first journalist to be killed by terrorists after 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. Another targeted victim was Mario Coelho, a campaigning Editor who exposed corruption among local politicians in Mage, Brazil. He was shot dead by a contract killer a day before he was due to testify in a criminal defamation suit. Some journalists were killed in tragic air accidents, but the eight who died over a 14- day period in Afghanistan provide a range of example of how journalists are always at risk in a fast-moving and uncontrolled conflict. Three journalists also died in Palestine The IFJ report includes journalists and all who work with them. We do not discriminate between members of the news team when it comes to casualties. Journalists lead the way, but their work so often depends upon the support of translators, drivers, technical staff and others. They must be counted too. 2 Country by Country Analysis Country Journalists Media Staff Cases Under Killed Killed Investigation Afghanistan 8 Algeria 2 Angola 1 Bangladesh 1 1 Bolivia 1 Brazil 1 China 1 1 Colombia 4 6 Costa Rica 1 Ecuador 1 Estonia 1 Federal Republic Yugoslavia 3 France 1 1 Georgia 1 Guatemala 1 Haiti 1 1 India 4 1 Indonesia 1 1 Iraq 1 Kuwait 1 Latvia 1 Mexico 2 Mongolia 3 Nigeria 1 Palestine 3 Paraguay 1 Peru 1 Philippines 2 3 Russia 1 2 Somalia 1 South Africa 1 Spain 3 Thailand 5 1 Uganda 4 Ukraine 1 1 United Kingdom 1 United States 4 8 Uzbekistan 2 Total 68 9 23 3 Regional Analysis Region Journalists Killed Mediaworkers Total Killed Africa 10 10 Americas 24 9 33 Asia 35 35 Europe 17 17 Middle East 5 5 Total 91 9 100 4 Source: IFJ, RSF, CPJ, WAN, Cases of Journalists Killed IPI, IFEX, Freedom Forum, EJC, FNSI, DJV, SNJ Country: AFGHANISTAN Description: Pierre Billaud, a CASENR: 1 reporter for Radio Television Name: Johanne Sutton Luxembourg; was killed when Taliban Nationality: French forces fired on their Northern Alliance Profession: Journalist military convoy. News organ: Radio France Three reporters were among a group of Internationale six journalists who were riding with Sector: Radio Northern Alliance soldiers in an Date: 11 November 2001 armored personnel carrier (APC). The Age: 34 soldiers were advancing toward Source: IFJ, RSF, CPJ, WAN, Taliban positions near the city of IPI, IFEX, Freedom Forum, EJC, Taloqan, the capital of Takhar FNSI, DJV, SNJ Province and the alliance's former Description: Johanne Sutton, a headquarters. reporter for Radio France Taliban forces opened fire on the Internationale; was one of three convoy and hit the APC carrying the journalists killed when Taliban forces journalists with a rocket-propelled fired on their Northern Alliance grenade. The jolt from the grenade's military convoy. impact caused some people to fall off The reporters were among a group of the tank, while others may have six journalists who were riding with jumped off. Three journalists survived Northern Alliance soldiers in an the attack. armored personnel carrier (APC). Additional: Pierre Billaud, special Taliban forces opened fire on the envoy for the French radio station RTL, convoy and hit the APC carrying the covered conflicts in Bosnia, Algeria journalists with a rocket-propelled and Kosovo. grenade. The jolt from the grenade's impact caused some people to fall off Country: AFGHANISTAN the tank, while others may have CASENR: 3 jumped off. Three journalists survived Name: Volker Handloik the attack. Nationality: German Additional: Johanne Sutton had Profession: Freelance Journalist worked for RFI since the early 1990s. News organ: Stern She covered several conflicts, Sector: Press particularly in the Middle East. Date: 11 November 2001 Age: 40 Country: AFGHANISTAN Source: IFJ, RSF, CPJ, WAN, CASENR: 2 IPI, IFEX, Freedom Forum, EJC, Name: Pierre Billaud FNSI, DJV, SNJ Nationality: French Description: Volker Handloik, a Profession: Journalist freelance reporter on assignment for News organ: RTL the German news magazine Stern, was Sector: Radio killed with Johanne Sutton of Radio Date: 11 November 2001 France Internationale, and Pierre Age: 31 Billaud of RTL, when Taliban forces 5 fired on their Northern Alliance CASENR: 5 military convoy. Name: Azizullah Haidari The reporters were among a group of Nationality: Afghan six journalists who were riding with Profession: Photographer Northern Alliance soldiers in an News organ: Reuters armored personnel carrier (APC). Sector: News Agency Additional: Volker Handloik, 40 Date: 19 November 2001 years old, worked as a freelance Age: 33 reporter for the German weekly Stern, Source: IFJ, RSF, CPJ, WAN, but also for the magazines Geo, IPI, IFEX, Freedom Forum, EJC Spiegel-reporter and Focus. The Description: Four international experienced journalist made several journalists were ambushed and killed reports in Russia and South America. while travelling through eastern Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan. A Country: AFGHANISTAN car at the head of a convoy of about CASENR: 4 eight vehicles was stopped by a group Name: Harry Burton of armed men. Gunmen dragged the Nationality: Australian four journalists out of the front two Profession: Cameraman cars, marched them into the News organ: Reuters surrounding hills, and executed them Sector: News Agency using Kalashnikov rifles, according to Date: 19 November 2001 a driver and translator who were Age: 33 allowed to flee and later spoke to Source: IFJ, RSF, CPJ, WAN, reporters. IPI, IFEX, Freedom Forum, EJC, Additional: Azizullah Haidari, an Pacific Media Watch Afghan refugee in Pakistan, had Description: Four international worked for Reuters since 1992. He was journalists were ambushed and killed married and the father of two children, while travelling through eastern a boy and girl. He had recently Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan. expressed his desire to return to settle Harry Burton, Azizullah Haidari, both down in his country. of Reuters, Maria Grazia Cutuli of Corriere della Sera, and Julio Fuentes Country: AFGHANISTAN of El Mundo, were in a car at the head CASENR: 6 of a convoy of about eight vehicles Name: Maria Grazia Cutuli when they were stopped by a group of Nationality: Italian armed men. Gunmen dragged the four Profession: Journalist journalists out of the front two cars, News organ: Corriere della Sera marched them into the surrounding Sector: Press hills, and executed them using Date: 19 November 2001 Kalashnikov rifles, according to a Age: 39 driver and translator who were allowed Source: IFJ, RSF, CPJ, WAN, to flee and later spoke to reporters. IPI, IFEX, Freedom Forum, FNSI, EJC Additional: Harry Burton was well Description: Four international known for his coverage of the East journalists were ambushed and killed Timor conflict in 1999, when militias while travelling through eastern and the Indonesian army unleashed a Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan. wave of violence against the Timorese. Maria Grazia Cutuli of Corriere della Sera, was in a car at the head of a Country: AFGHANISTAN convoy of about eight vehicles when 6 they were stopped by a group of armed a house where Swedish journalists men. Gunmen dragged the four were staying in the northern Afghan journalists out of the front two cars, city of Taloqan. Three gunmen with marched them into the surrounding rifles and knives broke into the house hills, and executed them using where Stromberg, three other Swedish Kalashnikov rifles, according to a journalists and an Afghan translator driver and translator who were allowed were staying and demanded money. to flee and later spoke to reporters. After the shooting they escaped with a Additional: Maria Grazia Cutuli,