BARMM gov't officials assure journalists of protection, assistance

COTABATO City - Journalists working within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been reassured by government officials of safety during the commemoration of International Day to End Impunity for crimes against journalists.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, the spokesperson of Bangsamoro region said the region does not want to repeat the dark part of history, specifically the Maguindanao Massacre that claimed the lives of 58 persons - including 32 media workers - in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao on November 23, 2009.

"We made this commitment earlier and we are reaffirming it today that your government would ensure that impunity for the crimes against journalists do not happen in the region," said Sinarimbo.

Acknowledging the important role of free press in a democratic society, where some powerful forces wanted to curb or curtail truth, Sinarimbo said the Bangsamoro government is willing to assist journalists under threat to seek refuge from them or be provided with government protection or legal services.

Informal assistance will be offered and, if needed, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) may be called upon during interventions in their community reach.

"If you feel threatened or in any way receive threats from anyone, please feel free to call us or communicate with us by any means and we will make sure that we provide the necessary assistance for you, that (is) the commitment from the chief minister and Bangsamoro government," Sinarimbo assured.

The BARMM government has allocated a trust fund for medical assistance, burial or calamity assistance for members of the media.

"While we are assisting the journalists on their welfare it doesn’t mean that they will report all praise on us, we are still open to criticism, to report or look on the gaps that we have not seen," he said.

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, is celebrated every 2nd of November, puts a spotlight on the low global conviction rate for violent crimes against journalists and media workers, estimated at only one in every ten cases.

Based on the information from the website of the United Nations, from 2006 up to 2019 close to 1,200 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public. In nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed  November 2 as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ in General Assembly Resolution that urged member States to implement definite measures to counter the present culture of impunity.

The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013. -- BAP, GMA News