الاتحاد الكاثوليكي العالمي للصحافة- لبنان اوسيب – لبنان
Antelias, May 7 th, 2005
1 – After the series of aggressions against commercial, industrial and tourist regions near the capital, the aggression of yesterday against Voice of Charity radio on the anniversary day of Lebanese reporters martyrdoms, constitutes a developed step in the programmed terrorism against the Lebanese, especially that it reached a Lebanese symbol and an advanced institution in publishing the culture of faith and dialogue between persons.
2 – The aggression aimed to hit a series of values on which Lebanon, the messenger nation, is based, namely media and public freedoms, especially the freedom of belief, worship, expression and opinion. Attacking these values threatens the Constitution and existence of Lebanon. Thus, this crime is one of the most dangerous crimes Lebanon could ever face, knowing that Lebanon is the nation of coexistence between religions and cultures.
3 – This aggression constitutes a message to the different kinds of mass medias after the wonderful role they assumed during the Intifada independence. It is clear that this outrageous aggression aims to frighten the middle of Lebanese publicists, as persistence to the continuous security repression.
4 – This aggression puts the Lebanese officials before their responsibilities, stemming from the Lebanese President, to the Prime Minister, to the Parliament and related security forces. And one more time, the question is: who protects the public freedoms in Lebanon? Who is entrusted with the security and rights of the people, and who is the responsible of what is happening?
5 – The Forum considers that this crime crossed all the red lines by attacking a symbol of faith and coexistence.
6 – The aggression happened at the end of the day on which the “Voice of Charity” radio broadcasted on live a special program about the retained issue in the Syrian and Israeli prisons, and it is a strictly human issue supposed to shake all consciences. Is it meant by this crime to obliterate this case? This aggression, even if it oppresses us, will not shut down mothers for claiming their sons, and reveal the destiny of missing people as the justice and human spirit require.
7 – The entire mass medias still witness the freedom and independence of Lebanon. Hundreds of Lebanese reporters paid their blood, life and freedom for their nation. What “Voice of Charity” radio encountered is a persistence of this martyrdom.
8 – The World Forum of Professionals in the Secular and Religious Media (UCIP Lebanon) asserts that Lebanon is the country of plurality and freedom. Without these components, Lebanon loses its raison d’être. Thus, it stands by mass medias in their different policy, spirituality and intellectuality. It claims to let them work in a climate of freedom which allows the culture originality, as it is good for Lebanon and as it assures its development. Any political approach which does not defend these values and does not try to protect them, delays the civilized process of Lebanon, and makes it lose its legitimacy and stand in the conscience of the Lebanese and the world.
Translated by: Joyce Tary
