Australian Journalists Protest Bombing of Iraqi Television

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has sent a letter of protest to the Prime Minister, John Howard voicing its concern over the recent The Media Alliance is deeply concerned over the coalition forces' bombing of Iraqi Television on Tuesday night.

Recommended action:

Send appeals:

Condemning the recent bombing by coalition forces of Iraqi Television on Tuesday night.
Appeals:

Prime Minister John Howard
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Via facsimile: (02) 6273 4100

Please copy appeals to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance at [email protected]




The Alliance have protested to the Australian Prime Minister in the following letter:

27 March 2003

Prime Minister John Howard
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Via facsimile: (02) 6273 4100

Dear Prime Minister

The Media Alliance is deeply concerned over the coalition forces' bombing of Iraqi Television on Tuesday night.

Under the Geneva Conventions, journalists and other media workers - including those who are citizens of combatant nations - should be treated as civilians. This should clearly outlaw the treatment of the media as military targets unless there is clear evidence that they are fulfilling a definite military purpose.

The justification for the bombing by military spokespeople reveals that the coalition has no evidence that would justify the attack. Indeed, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the television infrastructure has been targeted because of the news and information it is providing.

Violence is the worst form of censorship.

Unfortunately, when liberal democracies claim that the media are a legitimate military target, and then there are plenty of dictators - such as Saddam Hussein - prepared to take us at our word. This coalition attacks set up journalists globally as legitimate targets in war.

As Australia is a member of the coalition, we strongly urge you intervene to end attacks on the media as part of the strategy for the war on Iraq.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Warren
Federal Secretary