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| NEWS > 07 May 2007 |
Other related articles:
No strike action
The Queensland Police Union says officers won't be taking strike action over the imminent charging of a colleague over the Palm Island death in custody case.
Former New South Wales Chief Justice Sir Lawrence Street has overturned the decision not to lay charges against Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley.
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Mr Doomadgee's family says the review has given them hope they'll have justice.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough has also welcomed t... Read more
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Mmegi - Gaberones,Botswana
07 May 2007
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Journalists Assaults: Minister
Minister of Communications, Science and Technology (MCST) Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi has lambasted the police for failing to take action when they see journalists on duty being assaulted. Speaking during celebrations of World Press Freedom Day in Gaborone on Saturday, she said that perpetrators of such offences should be severely dealt with.
During the celebrations, it was revealed that in 2006, photo-journalists in Botswana were assaulted in the presence of the police who just watched and did nothing. The theme of this year's celebrations was: 'Press Freedom, Safety of Journalists and Impunity'. One of the incidents was when Robert Masitara assaulted a photographer during his rape case at Extension Two Magistrates' Court last year. In another incident, a Chinese man attacked Mmegi photographer Tsele Tsebetsame and smashed a windscreen of the car he was driving demanding that he erases the pictures of him he took at Village Magistrates' Court. The police watched and did nothing.
Venson-Moitoi said that it is disturbing for some people to think that the law does not protect journalists. She urged journalists to educate the public about their job. She said the media is the Fourth Estate in a democracy and is part and parcel of the efficacy of governance. "Such a responsibility demands that we desist from finger pointing, buck-passing or abdication of responsibility by playing our part in this system of checks and balances. This we can do by ensuring that we all jealously guard, protect and sustain all our freedoms granted under the constitution," she said. The minister urged the media to respect and protect freedoms of other groups and individuals in society through responsible reporting. "This is where you, as the media, and us, as government are innately joined together as service providers and accountable representatives of the nation," asserted Venson-Moitoi.
She said that government recognises the role of the media in national development and MCST is working positively with Media Advisory Council (MAC) and the High Level Consultative Council chaired by the President. "The involvement of government with the media at both ministerial and Head of State level is a measurement of our commitment as the executive to the role of the media in national development," Venson-Moitoi said.
She announced her intentions to take to Parliament the Mass Media Bill. She expressed confidence the bill is a product of extensive consultations nationally and a collaborative work with the media in Botswana. "The proposed bill seeks to give the Press Council of Botswana legal recognition and status to enable it to deal effectively with media complaints and to enforce the Code of Ethics. Once approved, the legislation will mandate the Press Council of Botswana to act as a self-regulating body that will monitor the activities of the press and ensure the maintenance of high professional standards; additionally, the Press Council of Botswana would, if the bill is approved, assume responsibility for the provision of accreditation of journalists," Venson-Moitoi said.
The gathering heard that over 150 journalists were killed in 2006, the highest number in history. Most of the killings occurred in Iraq. The Saturday events started with a March from Middle Star Mall to the Mass Media Complex. Among the speakers were MISA chairman Laona Segaetsho, Pamela Dube and Editor of Gazette newspaper, Batlhalefi Leagajang.
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