By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 11 August 2014:
Reporters Without Borders (RWB) released another report this week detailing a series of attacks on journalists . . .[restrict]in Libya and calling on the government to “do its duty” to protect civilians, including media personnel.
Reviewing the events of the past month including the clashes in Tripoli and Benghazi, RWB noted that over 200 people had died and more than 1,000 wounded. The organisation emphasised that shelling had taken place in residential areas, leading to civilian casualties, which Amnesty International has labeled war crimes.
In the midst of all of this, the media have continued to be under attack, RWB noted. It listed a number of instances in the past month involving the abduction or intimidation of media. Last week Ajdabiya-based Barqa TV staff members were abducted near Derna while returning from reporting on the opening of the House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk. The five abductees have not been heard from since.
According to RWB, on 4 August militiamen under the command of Abdel Raouf Kara prevented the staff of state-run Al-Wataniya from broadcasting the HoR inaugural ceremonies, forcing all staff from the building. Reportedly, the militia ordered the station’s staff not to report on any HoR activities while at the same time demanding they report (positively) on Operation Libya Dawn, the name of the Misrata-led armed campaign against militias allied with the Zintanis.
Additionally, RWB reported that early this month three employees of the television station Alaseema were abducted while reporting from Tripoli’s Martyr’s Square. The journalists were covering demonstrations taking place there against the armed clashes happening in the capital. The men were released about five hours later. RWB speaks of the men were tortured while held at Mitiga Airbase.
The RWB statement said that journalists are becoming increasingly concerned about their personal safety in Libya as violence has increased, causing many to flee the country. RWB says it has given support to 10 journalists in exile in 2014 and recorded 60 violations of freedom of information.
The agency demanded the government protect Libya’s journalists and to bring to justice those who were responsible for crimes against the media.
“Journalists have a vital role to play in the new Libya, especially in building a viable and democratic state with a long-term future,” RWB said.
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