IFJ Calls for Unity of Journalists
IFJ Calls for Unity of Palestinian Journalists ahead of Congress
Jan. 29 2010 – A press release issued by Aidan White, the Secretary General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), calls for unity among the Palestinian journalists ahead of the congress of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), and calls for the postponement of the congress scheduled to be held on 5th February 2010, in order to allow journalists to put in place a structure acceptable to all, which will guarantee an open and inclusive process leading to a unifying congress.
According to my sources from Palestine, there is a state of chaos, confusion and abuse which emerged during the preparation process of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate congress. There are political interventions which control by force the preparation of the PJS congress. These interventions are not in the best interest of the journalists and journalism, and could lead to results detrimental to the professionalism of the journalist’s syndicate, turning it into a tool in the hands of a group of powerful politicians outside of the profession of journalism.
It should be noted that the severe restrictions imposed on Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip must also be taken in consideration. The PJS, without the free and unhindered participation of the Gaza journalists, is illegal and in violation of the by-laws of the PJS.
“The IFJ is deeply worried that the current process is unclear for many journalists”, said Aidan White, “The IFJ is ready to do what it can to insure that Palestinian journalists have full confidence in this preparation and we are committed to do all we can to ensure the success of this process.”
Below is the full text of the IFJ statement.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on all Palestinian journalists to unite around their union ahead of the planned congress.
“We welcome the enthusiasm and commitment of the Palestinian journalists to reform their syndicate (PJS),” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “This congress is many years overdue and we are happy it is finally happening.”
The IFJ says, however, that there are concerns within the Palestinian journalists’ community because of undue political interference in the preparation of the PJS congress. The Federation is calling for the postponement of the congress scheduled to be held on 5th February for a short period to allow journalists to put in place a structure acceptable to all which will guarantee an open and inclusive process leading to a unifying congress.
“We are deeply worried that the current process is unclear for many journalists,” added White, “The IFJ is ready to do what it can to insure that Palestinian journalists have full confidence in this preparation and we are committed to do all we can to ensure the success of this process.”
The IFJ says that its leadership is ready to organize an urgent mission to Palestine in order to help creating an agreement on holding the PJS Congress.
For more information contact + 32 2 235 22 07
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide
The translation of the IFJ statement to Arabic is below:
بيان صادر عن الاتحاد الدولي للصحفيين
دعا الاتحاد الدولي للصحفيين اليوم كافة الصحفيين الفلسطينيين الى الالتفاف حول نقابتهم وذلك قبيل المؤتمر المزمع انعقاده
وقال رئيس النقابة الدولية ايدن وايت الأمين العام للاتحاد الدولي للصحفيين. “اننا نرحب بالحماس والالتزام من جانب الصحفيين الفلسطينيين من اجل صلاح نقابتهم. لقد تاخر انعقاد هذا المؤتمر سنوات عديدة ،ولكنه في النهاية سيتحقق ونحن سعداء في ذلك
واقرالاتحاد الدولي للصحفيين في بيانه ، بان هناك مخاوفا داخل الجسم الصحافي بسبب وجود تدخلات سياسية في عملية التحضير لعقد المؤتمر العام. وعليه فإن الاتحاد يوجه دعوة إلى الصحافيين الفلسطينيين للقيام بتأجيل عقد هذا المؤتمر المقرر عقده في 5 شباط (فبراير) المقبل لفترة قصيرة لكي تكون هناك فرصة لتأسيس آلية مقبولة لدى الجميع تضمن بأن تكون عملية التحضير للمؤتمر العام شفافة وشاملة لجميع الصحافيين وتقود لمؤتمر توحيدي للجسم الصحافي
واضاف وايت “اننا نشعر بالقلق العميق خاصة وان العملية الحالية ليست واضحة بالنسبة لكثير من الصحفيين ، وقال” إن الاتحاد الدولي للصحافيين جاهز لتقديم كل ما يمكن تقديمه لضمان ان تكون هناك ثقة كاملة من الصحفيين في عملية التحضيرات للمؤتمر العام ونحن ملتزمون بتقديم كل ما نستطيع لضمان نجاح هذا المؤتمر
واكد البيان بان الاتحاد الدولي للصحفيين على استعداد لتنظيم بعثة عاجلة الى فلسطين من أجل المساعدة في التوصل إلى توافق بشأن عقد مؤتمر النقابة
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