Balibo - 25 years of brick walls - Journalists in joint call for action

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 1975 Balibo killings of five Australian based journalists and media workers.

"This anniversary also marks the anniversary of 25 years of brick walls and obfuscation," said Chris Warren, Federal Secretary of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and Aidan White, General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, in a joint statement issued today.

"Finding out what really happened and who was responsible has been frustrating," said Mr White.

Today comes more disturbing reports that Canberra has disrupted the investigation into the killings by withdrawing two Australian police officers who seemed near to prosecutions in the case.

"And yet what the government really should be doing is everything it can to find answers to these killings", said Mr Warren.

In a move strongly supported by the UN, the two police investigators had sought a three month extension so that they could work towards the resolution of the case. The extension was apparently denied without reason.

"Whenever a journalist is murdered, press freedom takes a major blow, " said Mr Warren.