DM 2021: International solidarity
The debate in the international section of the union's conference focused on a range of countries including Turkey and Palestine.
The first motion in the international debate this morning was tabled by the National Executive Council and focused on the continued targeting of journalists in Yemen (motion 95). The Yemen Journalists Syndicate has been documenting most of the human rights abuses suffered by journalists ranging from kidnaps to attacks, arson, judicial cases, and killings. According to YJS figures some 32 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war – at least seven killed in Saudi-led coalition air strikes– and 20 journalists have been the victims of enforced disappearance and kidnappings by government and non-government forces. They include 10 journalists taken hostage by the Houthis in Sanaa in 2015 and who have since been facing death sentences.
Conference welcomed the damning report released by the UN Human Rights Council that highlighted the climate of fear and intimidation in areas under Yemeni government control as well as those under the Houthis which, it said: “have enjoyed a pervasive lack of accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.” The report urged states, such as the UK, to refrain from providing arms that could be used in the conflict. The families of journalists have alleged torture and mistreatment of journalists in Houthi detention, which included beatings, verbal abuse, and denial of medical care.
Conference agreed to call on the recognised government to meet its international commitments to uphold the rights of all journalists, regardless of their political affiliation or any policy that equates journalists with armed combatants. DM also called on the Houthis to release all journalists and stop detaining and intimidating journalists operating in areas under their control.
The NUJ pledged to support the IFJ international campaign for Yemeni journalists and their union, and in particular join in the effort to make a formal complaint over the allegations of torture of journalists at the UN Committee against Torture. Conference also agreed to seek meetings with the Yemeni embassy and representatives of the Houthis.
The second motion in the international debate (motion 97) was also tabled by the NEC and focused on the jailing of journalists. The increase in journalists put behind bars – the vast majority by their own government – is not just a temporary spike but instead has become the preferred tool used by many states to clamp down on critical voices.
Conference highlighted that the waves of repression continue unabated in countries considered the worst jailers of journalists, such as China, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Journalists are increasingly imprisoned in countries where progress has been achieved or hoped for.
The latest wave of prosecutions tend to use the same charges such as false news, belonging to or aiding groups deemed by authorities as terrorist organisations, and anti-state charges. Some governments go to ridiculous lengths to keep critical journalists behind bars such as in the case of photographer Mahmoud Shawkan in Egypt, or Saudi Arabia in cracking down on women journalists writing about human rights, or Turkey where state prosecutors have been working around the clock seeking arrest warrants and applying new charges. Conference agreed that media workers should not be imprisoned for doing their job and instructs the union to support IFJ and sister union campaigns to help release journalists in jail.
The next motion (number 98) was focused on Turkey. The motion was proposed by the London central branch and amended by the NEC. Steve Sweeney proposed the motion and was speaking live from Kurdistan. He said: “The situation has deteriorated for journalists in Turkey” since the motion was first tabled and “We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Turkey” adding: “free journalism is not just a matter of democracy but is also about holding the powerful to account”.
The motion noted that Turkey has more journalists in jail than any other country in the world and hundreds of media outlets have been shut down by Presidential decree. The presidential office has taken over responsibility for the issuing of press cards, with anecdotal evidence of many opposition journalists being refused accreditation.
There was a debate about whether or not the union should provide funding and affiliate to external organisations and DM voted against this proposal.
Jim Boumelha said that “the NEC amendment strengthens the motion” and it was carried by conference. The amendment noted the International Press Institute's recent ‘Progress Arrested’ report into media freedom in Turkey. The report said that while the numbers of journalists in Turkish prisons has fallen slightly in recent months, the numbers being judicially harassed remains very high. Journalists are being tried on such nebulous and little-defined changes as ‘insulting the President of Turkey’ and ‘insulting the institutions of the Turkish state’, in cases that can last for five years or more.”
The NEC amendment also noted the recent ‘reforms’ of media law in Turkey that include dangerous new powers, among them the granting to Turkey’s Audio Visual Regulator the power to regulate all online content. The amendment also highlighted that the NUJ has provided long-standing support for journalists in Turkey. This work has included NUJ members observing the trials of journalists in Turkey, successfully ‘adopting’ Ayşe Düzkan, and through the IFJ and EFJ, NUJ members have also provided training for activists and leaders in the NUJ’s sister unions Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikası (TGS) and DiSK Basın-İş.
Conference resolved to continue to work to promote media freedom in Turkey by strengthening ties with journalists’ unions in Turkey. Conference also agreed to work to ensure that UK and Irish politicians are kept informed about the intolerable treatment of journalists in Turkey and ensure that our governments keep up pressure on Turkey’s government to end the repression of journalists in country.
Motion 100 focused on Palestine and was proposed by the South Yorkshire branch and amended by the NEC. The first speaker to propose the motion was Chris Rea from the Manchester and Salford branch. He emphasised that “grassroots solidarity is critical” and “in light of current events it is even more critical”.
Julia Armstrong was the second speaker in favour of the motion and she said: “We want to do something practical to help journalists tell their stories”. Julia also highlighted the work of the South Yorkshire NUJ branch who have established direct links with a group of journalists working in Gaza.
The motion noted the various international campaigns, supported by the NUJ, over many years to defend the rights of Palestinian journalists. The NEC amended the motion to remove the proposal for the union to campaign for “twinning” between chapels and branches with Palestinian journalists in order to “give a voice” to the stories of Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank and occupied territories.
Cailin Mackenzie spoke on behalf of the NEC, she stressed the importance of working with the PJS and IFJ and called the proposal to twin chapels and branches a “pointless initiative”. Cailin added: “The amendment allows for solidarity with all Palestinian journalists, expressed through our sister union”.
The NEC amendment was carried and it highlighted that the NUJ has helped develop the capacity of the PJS to monitor attacks against its members, publish credible statistics, expand the union’s reach to engage UN agencies and politicians.
The amendment also highlighted and offered support for the PJS in seeking legal remedies through the International Court of Justice.
The last motion in the international debate at NUJ conference brought attention to Kashmir (motion 101). The motion was proposed by the South Yorkshire branch and amended by the NEC.
Julia Armstrong proposed the motion and said: “Kashmir is close to my heart and I have been there three times, everyone is distraught to see what is going on at the moment and this motion is expressing solidarity; it is very difficult for journalists in Kashmir.”
The motion was seconded by Chris Rea from the Manchester and Salford branch. He said: “The motion is practical and meaningful, offering solid commitments and gives branches something tangible to work around.”
The motion condemned the killing and rape of civilians during the brutal occupation and lockdown of Kashmir by Modi’s far right Indian government troops.
The NEC amendment to the motion added that the Indian Journalists Union has mounted a strong campaign to get restrictions on media freedom lifted in Kashmir. In January, the IJU challenged the media ban on reporting in Kashmir in the Supreme Court which saw a relaxation in the use of the internet by news organisations in India but not in Kashmir. The IJU claimed that the curbs on the internet were a direct violation of press freedom. Routinely, landlines, mobile phones and internet services were blocked by the authorities. The shutdown in the Kashmir Valley severely hampered the ability of journalists to cover events. Newspapers, magazines and online sites were unable to function for several months.
The closure of the government media facilitation centre and the time limitations on the use of computers had a devastating impact on journalists. Many lost their jobs, including stringers, while others have had their salaries cut. The IJU also reported that several journalists have been arrested on spurious allegations and then released.
The NEC amendment was carried and instructs the NUJ to work with its sister unions in India – the Indian Journalists’ Union and the NUJ India – and the IFJ to put further pressure on the Indian Press Council to campaign for the complete removal of media restrictions in the Kashmir region.
Di Peasey speaking in support of the NEC amendment said: “we have to focus on the journalists in India, they are facing very difficult times, repeated attacks, intimation and brutalisation in Kashmir and other parts of India. There are increasing levels of repression and restrictions and some journalists are facing a lifetime in prison”.