The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Colombo

The fourth SAARC Journalists Summit adopted the Colombo Declaration on Thursday, with a call for taking concrete remedial measures to remove hindrances towards greater connectivity, partnerships, people to people contact, and free movement of information, goods and services across borders.

The declaration, adopted after consultation among attending journalists, urged the members states of SAARC to take short and long term comprehensive measures to eradicate extremism and violent practices by both the state and non-state actors against civilians and journalists.

It called on SAARC and professional associations to struggle at all levels in stemming and eradicating the tide of intolerance and violence against one section of the people or the other, journalists in particular.

The declaration said media is inseparable from the fundamental human and civil rights guaranteed by the constitutions and enforceable through an independent judiciary in a democratic system where both the state and society respect freedoms, show tolerance to dissent and practice pluralism.

It urged the SAARC countries to investigate into all acts of violence and intimidation against media professionals in their territory, and bring persons or outfits who have allegedly committed such crimes to justice with proper compensation to the victims.

The declaration urged the multilateral and bilateral institutes to make any cooperation and financial assistance to any country based on the indicators which would project the degree of its respect for freedom of expression and effective protection of press freedom.

It called for complying with the commitment of UNESCO Resolution 29 to promote legislation with the intention of investigating and prosecuting the killers of journalists and combat impunity.

The declaration laid stress on adopting SAFMA's Protocol on Freedom of Information and implement SAFMA's Protocol on free flow of information and movement of journalists across borders.

The declaration called for taking resolute action against all expressions of intolerance towards freedom of expression and for the safety of journalists in risky situations to ensure respect for their professional independence.

It urged to sensitise news organizations, editors and managers about the dangers surrounding their colleagues, when covering investigative stories, particularly at locals levels.

The declaration also called for promoting actions that secure safety of journalists. The actions include training for journalists, safety codes, healthcare, life insurance and equal access to social protection for the freelance journalists like full-time staffs.

It encouraged journalism schools and mass communication departments to include in curricula about the impact of crimes against journalists and subsequent impunity in democratic societies.

The SAARC journalists summit, the largest gathering of journalists in south Asia, under the theme "freedom of media in conflicts situations" began in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Wednesday.

More than 200 journalists from eight SAARC countries are attending the summit, fourth since its inception, at Hotel Trans Asia ahead of the 15th SAARC summit set for August 2.

The members of Bangladesh delegation included President of SAMC Bangladesh chapter Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley and General Secretary Shaukat Mahmud, Editor of The Independent Mahbubul Alam, former ambassador Mohammad Zamir, Editor of Bangladesh Obserber Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, SAFMA General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Faruque, BFUJ President M Mozammel Huq and Secretary General Ruhul Amin Gazi, BFUJ President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Kamaluddin Shabuj, Chief News Editor of NTV Khairul Anwar and Advocate Elina Khan.