The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins partners and
affiliates in India in condemning the August 11 violence in the western Indian
metropolis of Mumbai, which left three photojournalists seriously injured.
Information obtained from sources at the Indian Journalists’ Union
(IJU), an IFJ affiliate, and the Brihan-Mumbai (Greater-Mumbai) Union of
Journalists (BUJ), indicates that the journalists were targeted by a crowd that
had assembled at an open field in the south of the city, to protest against the
killing of members of the religious minority in recent communal violence in the
north-eastern Indian state of Assam and the Republic of Myanmar.
Three outdoor broadcasting (OB) vans belonging to well-known news channels
were also set ablaze in the violence which broke out after speakers at the
protest meeting reportedly denounced the media for not being attentive to the
suffering inflicted on members of the religious minority.
Participants at the demonstration reportedly turned violent without any
apparent provocation. Eyewitnesses say that they were seen asking for the
identity of the media persons present at the spot covering the demonstration,
before attacking them. The technicians staffing the OB van were asked to step
out and flee if they did not want to get burnt along with the vehicle.
The demonstration was organised by a Mumbai-based cultural organization,
the Raza Academy and a newly floated political platform, the Awami Vikas Party.
The photojournalists who were seriously injured have been identified as
Vivek Bendre of The Hindu, Prashant
Sawant of the Sakal Times and Atul
Kamble of Midday.
“We express our
solidarity with the injured journalists, and wish them a quick recovery”, said
the IFJ Asia-Pacific. “We also call on the authorities in Mumbai city to swiftly
identify and act against those responsible for fomenting and carrying out the
violent attacks”.
“We extend our
support to journalists and other media staff in India, as they organise a
sequence of protests to demand justice for this wholly reprehensible act of violence”.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
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