 Reporters Without Borders has strongly condemned an attack on the studios of a local radio linked to Fatah in the Gaza Strip in which its offices were wrecked, its sole transmitter destroyed and the building torched. Armed men burst into the studios of Al-Ummal [Workers'] Radio, run by the worker's union linked to the party of President Mahmud Abbas on 12 October 2006. After throwing a grenade into the entrance of the studios in the Ibad al-Rahman district in the north of Gaza, they ordered all its journalists out of the building. They then attacked the guards before ransacking the offices, destroying the transmitter and setting fire to five floors of the building. "We urge the authorities to open an investigation into this appalling act of violence. Since members of [Islamic Resistance Movement] Hamas are suspected of involvement, we call on Isma'il Haniyah, prime minister and leader of the [Hamas] party, to strongly condemn this attack and to expel those responsible from its ranks," the worldwide press freedom organization said. "In addition, inter-Palestinian violence is today the main threat to freedom of expression. A national radio controlled by the President of the Palestinian [National] Authority, Mahmud Abbas, was attacked on June 2006. Local and foreign journalists need to have their safety guaranteed to work in the Territories," said the organization. The radio station's head, Riziq al-Bayari, said he believed that the attack had been carried out by people linked to the Hamas movement. Elsewhere two other radio stations, Al-Shabab [Youth] and Al-Hurriyah [Freedom], both also close to Fatah, received telephoned threats last week. Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 16 Oct 06 Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press freedom throughout the world. It has nine national sections (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). It has representatives in Abidjan, Bangkok, London, Moscow, New York, Tokyo and Washington. And it has more than 120 correspondents worldwide. |