Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 8, 2009 – A project to create a Pan-African Media Observatory (PAMO), sponsored by the European Union in cooperation with the African Union, has been rejected by numerous African journalist organizations.

In a joint declaration, thirty-two members and partners of the Canada-based International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), argued that, as it is presently conceived, it “cannot lead to… advancing media development in (the continent) and particularly in ensuring media freedom, independence and professionalism.”

The declaration, whose signatories included media organizations from across Africa as well some African journalists in exile, was made in a letter addressed to Habiba Mejri-Cheikh, spokesperson for information and communication at the African Union Commission (AUC), and to Ian Barber, in charge of the Information and Communication at the European Commission (EC) Directorate General for Development and relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States.

Implement existing mechanisms instead

The African journalists reject the project saying that the PAMO “would ultimately create further problems for the media and the right of African peoples to independent sources of news and information for personal, professional and political decision-making”.

The journalists affirm that the objective of ensuring media freedom, independence, pluralism and professionalism would be more likely achieved through clear recognition and a more conscientious implementation and enforcement of existing commitments.

They urge African leaders to “make a clear commitment to effectively implement relevant existing African instruments and principles, including the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press; the African Charter on Broadcasting; the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa.”

The real issue for the vast majority of African media players, the journalists say, is how to overcome the over-bearing and pervasive influence of the state: a look at Africa’s recent past quickly reveals that governments consistently seek to control the media for propaganda purposes.

Flawed approach

Following the debates at Ouagadougou in September 2008, Jean Ping, chair of the AU, and Louis Michel, European commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, formulated the principles and practical lines of action.

According to the official joint statement, “the short-term objectives include the drafting of a charter laying down the rights and responsibilities of the media, the development, implementation and updating of a pan-African portal for all media, which could be used to draw up a state of play on what exists to date while constituting a local and international showcase shared by all the media in Africa.”

The joint declaration of the African journalist associations recalls that in many parts of Africa, media enterprises are sometimes shut down by government while scores of journalists and media workers as well as other citizens are regularly forced into exile, assassinated and subjected to other forms of aggression for exercising their rights to free speech, a reality that, argue the journalists, has been completely ignored by the project.

IPS contacted Bright Blewu, general secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, one of the signatories of the IFEX declaration. He said, “The PAMO project just looks like someone has just gotten up to promote an idea without consulting the stake-holders on the ground.

“The media climate in Africa is uneven and (it) would thus be difficult to know which standards are to be used,” Blewu said.

The Ethiopian National Journalists’ Union was not a signatory of the IFEX declaration, but in an interview with IPS, ENJU president Anteneh Abraham supported the criticisms.

“Though the initiative has good elements, it is fairly reasonable for us to be alarmed with the implications of some aspects of it (which) may lead to suppressing freedom of the press directly or indirectly.”

“We suspect elements of the proposed PAMO may lead to further suppress the media and harass journalists. Thus, we expect a serious consideration and revision in this regard,” Anteneh said.

By Julio Godoy – IPS

Francis Kokutse in Accra and Omer Redi Ahmed in Addis Ababa contributed to this report

Source: Afronline

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