Posted on 08/26/2002 6:27:27 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
Palestinian Press Organization Warns Journalists Against Taking Pictures of Armed Children
Published: Aug 26, 2002
|
|
|
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate also called on Palestinian factions and their military wings to stop using children in their activities.
The Foreign Press Association, representing news media working in Israel and the Palestinian territories, called on the organization to withdraw the directive, saying it limited coverage of news. Palestinian Authority officials had no immediate comment.
Children carrying weapons or dressed up as suicide bombers have been frequently seen at rallies and marches in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during nearly two years of Palestinian-Israeli violence. Israel has charged that Palestinians are misusing children as pawns in the conflict. The Palestinians counter that Israeli forces target children with gunfire during riots.
Tawfik Abu Khousa, deputy chairman of the syndicate, said such pictures harmed the image of the Palestinian people and the credibility of Palestinian journalists.
The order extends to Palestinian journalists who worked for local and foreign new agencies. It requires Palestinians who work for foreign news media to make sure that foreign photographers follow the ban. Free-lancers were also expected to abide by the order.
Journalists who failed to adhere to the ban would face disciplinary procedures, the statement said without elaborating. Previously, Palestinian journalists who ran afoul of the authorities had their credentials lifted, limiting their access to official events.
"We have decided to forbid taking any footage of armed children, because we consider that as a clear violation of the rights of children and for negative effects these pictures have on the Palestinian people," he said.
The statement said footage of armed children served "the interests of Israel and its propaganda against the Palestinian people."
The union also threatened to boycott militant groups who use children and masked men in their activities.
Palestinian photographers have told of attempts by Palestinian officials and militias to keep them from taking pictures considered unfavorable, sometimes using threats and coercion. The Palestinian Information Ministry has issued statements denouncing the threats.
Most foreign news agencies make extensive use of local Palestinian photographers in the Gaza Strip for both print and television pictures.
Journalists were also banned from photographing masked men.
In a statement, the Foreign Press Association expressed "deep concern" over the decision by the syndicate and its threats of sanctions against journalists, local and foreign, who disregard the ban.
"While we share the expressed desire to defend the rights of children, limiting coverage of legitimate news events and elements of stories is not the proper way to achieve this goal," it said.
AP-ES-08-26-02 1954EDT
Wouldn't it be simpler just to make sure the children don't have access to weapons?
The Pallies are so blatant, they do not want the truth of how evil they really are to get out to the world.
Or maybe stop strapping C4 and dynamite around the waists of 3-year-old "martyrs"?
LMAO! These are the Palestinians, of course that is what a moral society would do.
The Palestinian society is acknowledging that armed children participating in the terrorist militias and parades is such a problem that action must be taken. What do they try to do? Disarm children? Make firearms illegal for minors? Nope, that would indicate some effort to stop the terrorist groups. Instead, the decide to try and hide the truth from the world. Sadly, with most news organizations using freelance PA photographers the world will soon seem only images of injured children and most of the world will buy it.
Sarah Brady has called for "detonator locks" on dynamite belts, and warns Palestinians that C4 stored in your home is 43 times more likely to be used to kill a friend or family member than an Israeli occupier.
The statement said footage of armed children served "the interests of Israel and its propaganda against the Palestinian people."
So showing pictures of what they are actually doing is helping the Israelis? What in hell kind of cockeyed logic is that? Maybe the "Palestinian cause" would be better helped by ceasing the arming and brainwashing of these children in the first place!!
The actions of the radical Palestinians are what is harming the image of the Palestinian people. And covering up it up won't improve their credibility.
That's impossible. A rabble of murderers doesn't have a "cause".
Israel is a democracy and journalists can pretty much report what they want. On the other hand, to operate in the Palestinian Authority/Arafatistan, reporters must be acompanied by Arab journalists and stringers. These Arab camera men, stringers, and producers create content and define coverage. Any media company not following these and other PA dictates are forced to leave.
I imagine that AP will get in serious trouble for releaing this story.
Ah, it's complicated. That wouldn't work for the Palestinians because sending children off to war is easier than sending adults. And it cost money to feed those little mouths. A worthy Palestinian child earns his keep by blowing himself up.
That's one less mouth to feed and a pile of cash from the Saudies for Mom & Pop Pali. Do the math.
Let's see if I understand this now, using children as combatants is not a violation of their rights, only taking pictures of them is.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.