الاتحاد الكاثوليكي العالمي للصحافة- لبنان اوسيب – لبنان
Antelias, February 20th, 2001
In the frame of the action of the media observer constituted by the World Forum of Professionals in the Secular and Religious Media in Lebanon, aiming to follow up media evolutions, mainly the ones related to freedom of media, freedom of expression and human rights, the Forum noted the following:
1. The World Forum of Professionals in the Secular and Religious Media in Lebanon found strange the news and some unofficial declarations which talked lately about the possibility of pursuiting the television channel “MTV”, for the interview with the General Michel Aoun. The Forum sees that the said channel did what every media channel shall do in any democratic State. It is a presentation of opposition ideas besides the ideas of the power, movements and trends supporting it. If the role of the media sector is limited to unilaterally transmit the word, sound and image, the freedom of expression which represents the main condition on which is based every democratic regime, is annul. Thus, replying on the other opinion by threatening, betraying and waving a judicial pursuit, as it is supposed happening now, instead of using the stable law and rational dialogue, represents a kind of revenge and a method which does not suit the State of laws and institutions that all Lebanese aspire to realize despite all difficulties.
2. As the level of aggressions against intellengtias and publicists increases in some States of the region, the Forum is afraid that some Lebanese be carried along this behavior, as show the two aggressions against the colleague reporter Walid Naim Al Zein by members of internal security forces at the Jisr Al Awali in Saida, and against the colleague Sandrella Barakat Al Hajj at Kesrowan by the driver of one minister who is considered one of the best fair officials. Thus the Forum, finding strange this last accident in particular, claims the discovery of its circumstances, abiding by the reputation of the minister, and being afraid that such contraventions against publicists and citizens aggravate the disfiguration of the image and reputation of Lebanon.
3. While some mass medias publish numbers signaling the continuity of the general national indebt aggravation, while international and national reports reveal the enormity of wasting and corruption in Lebanese official administrations, the Forum attracts the attention on the presence of 37% of semi – illiterate dealers in the Agency of national information, and on semi – imaginary salaries and indemnities that some employees in the official Lebanese television get. Thus, the Forum demands once again in this frame to review the general activities of the official media, preparing to gradually dispense with it as developed democratic States did. At the same time, it salutes the position of the current minister and certain former ministers of Information in this issue, claiming the necessity of consolidating the role of the national council of media and giving it decisive authorities, not limiting it to its consultative role, in order to prevent the monopolization of official mass medias by some financial and political forces, to prevent that some medias be a product in the hands of some persons, and to prevent external financial institutions which do not give a value to the peace of moral values, national cultural patrimony and high national media morality.
4. The Forum observed multiple media positions brought out by Lebanese parts from all religions, regions and social classes concerning rights of farmers, industrials and labors whose urgent issues suffer all kind of negligence in these current difficult economic conditions. Thus the Forum, estimating the perceptible efforts exert by mass medias to cover the events which accompanied the movements of Lebanese farmers claiming the protection of their legitimate rights in face of external traffics and contraband operations at the frontier, notices that giving such issues lots of interest represents the deep service of the general Lebanese interest, where everybody can equitably meet at the level of consciousness and interest of common Lebanese affair. The Forum can not in this regard but claim that such media covering exceeds the qualification of passing prosperity which may be controlled by some temperaments to the level of vital and active rational enhancement in Lebanese, regional and worldwide public opinion, due to its deep and fundamental connection to the heart of the Lebanese national destiny.
5. Stemming from the common concerns of publicists, the Forum welcomes the publication of the first political non governmental newspaper in Syria. It hopes that its beginning will be an emersion of a new era of prosperity, democracy and peace. It welcomed as well the statement of the one thousands intellengtias after the statement of the 99 intellengtias, provided that this action be accompanied by growing cultural action accomplished by an increase in consciousness before the officials, to not confuse or abuse it, or reflect it negatively on the safety of intellengtias and publicists’ rights and goods, condemning any sanction which some were subject to because of their position.
6. The Forum is very concerned about the news certain mass medias discussed lately in the regard of projects aiming to transform the lines of internet channels in Lebanon to outside its territories and establish centers which are supposed to accentuate the media and informational control, which aggravates the decrease of freedom and sovereignty spaces. Thus, the Forum calls the officials, the public opinion and all persons sticking to fundamental national values to prevent this danger and act to avoid the slide in its pits which can not be supported, in all media, economic and national sectors.
7. The Forum office held its regular meeting under the presidency of the Pr. Toni Khadra. The first group of new adherents to the Forum was accepted; their number is 15 publicists of different national domestic, private and ecclesiastic mass medias, mainly daily newspapers, journals and press, radio and television agencies.
In this occasion, the Forum office reminds the colleague publicists that the adhesion door is opened to any person, provided that application forms are submitted to the secretariat of the Forum at Antelias – Armenian Bishopric Street, Byblos bank building, 3rd floor. Tel and Fax: 04/419989, Cell: 03/349838
During the following office hours: from Monday to Friday,
From 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M
Translated by: Joyce Tary
