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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syrian National Council Says Regime 'Liquidating' Journalists |
| 2012-01-13 |
| The opposition Syrian National Council accused the regime on Thursday of "liquidating" journalists in order to hush up what is happening in the country, a day after a French news hound was killed. The SNC's accusation came as La Belle France demanded an investigation into the death the previous day of Gilles Jacquier, 43, who worked for La Belle France 2 television, during a government-organized trip to the flashpoint city of Homs. The SNC denounced the "murder" of Jacquier, saying it was a "dangerous sign that the authorities have decided to physically liquidate journalists in an attempt to silence neutral and independent media." The award-winning Jacquier, who had covered conflicts in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan, was the first Western news hound to die in Syria since anti-regime protests erupted in mid-March last year. An Agence La Belle France Presse photographer said he was killed when a shell went kaboom!among some 15 journalists covering demonstrations in Homs on a visit organized by the authorities. Six Syrians were also reported killed, and several other people maimed. Anti-regime activists in Homs also said the authorities had orchestrated the attack, while state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? blamed "a terrorist group" that had opened fire on the journalists and a gathering of regime supporters. Wissam Tarif, an Arab campaigner with international activist non-governmental organization Avaaz, undermined the government's claims. "The journalists were attacked in a heavily militarized regime stronghold. It would be hugely difficult for any armed opposition to penetrate the area and launch such a deadly attack," he said. Tarif also said the incident was an "unacceptable breach of the Arab League ...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing... protocol," to which Syria has committed itself and which requires journalists to have freedom to report across Syria. "The regime has denied journalists free access to the country, forcing them to join press tours organized by the ministry of information and chaperoned closely by regime minders," he said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy ...23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. Sarkozy is married to singer-songwriter Carla Bruni, who has a really nice birthday suit... said in a statement that "La Belle France expects the Syrian authorities to shed light on the death of a man who was simply doing his job: reporting." British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the attack, saying the "deaths highlight once again the terrible price being paid by the people of Homs, as well as the courage of journalists who take great personal risks to bring to light what is happening to the people of Syria." And EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton joined global press watchdog Reporters Without Borders in demanding a rapid inquiry. The SNC urged international organizations to deal with the "crimes perpetrated by the regime against Syrian and foreign journalists." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 And you would think it would be just the other way around. |
| Posted by: kelly 2012-01-13 12:28 |
| #1 Kill one journalist (and French at that) and its time for International outrage. But kill thousands of your own citizens? Fey! |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2012-01-13 11:41 |