OANA president condemns the killing of journalist in Gaza

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Organization of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA) has condemned the killing of Palestinian cameraman Fadal Shana who worked for Reuters news agency, as a result of an indiscriminate attack by Israeli forces in Gaza.

"Israeli forces have targeted vehicles and journalists who were clearly identified as such, with "Press" or "TV" markings. Fadal Shana was killed while filming Israeli tanks in central Gaza," said OANA President Dr. Ahmad Mukhlis Yusuf in a statement posted in OANA website (www.oananews.org), Sunday.

The OANA groups 44 news agencies from 33 countries in the Asia Pacific region. Protection of journalists and safety of press crew are the highest priority of OANA Presidency under Dr. Ahmad Mukhlis Yusuf, who is also CEO of Antara, the Indonesian News Agency.

"The media have become part of the battleground and journalists are ever more at risk. But, please, don`t kill the messenger. The targeting of journalists is a scandalous violation of human rights and must be stopped," he added.

According to Reuters Deputy Bureau Chief Julian Rake, the 23-year-old Shana had been operating according to standard press procedure. When he was killed, he had been wearing a flak jacket clearly marked with press symbols and his car was marked with press stickers.

The killing of Fadal Shana confirms the fear that media inside Gaza are becoming the targets of Israeli forces. All governments and organizations, he said, have a responsibility to take the utmost care to protect professionals trying to do their jobs.

"It is time for the international community to ensure that any agreement to end hostilities will also take media and journalists out of the firing line." he urged.

The OANA has called for the protection of media and journalists to be guaranteed by Israeli forces in Gaza. Mukhlis Yusuf also called on the world of journalism to raise its voice in protest against Israeli forces` pressure on media trying to cover the Gaza conflict. Israeli forces have imposed a blockade on the world`s media trying to report on the crisis inside Gaza.

"The truth cannot be told unless journalists are free to move, to talk with everyone involved and to see with their own eyes what is happening on the ground," he added

source:antara.co.id