Brunei Backs Plan To Lobby For Treaty On Protection Of Journalists

Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei and other member-countries of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) have supported the plans by the World Broadcasting Union to lobby for an international treaty on the protection of journalists in areas of conflict.

The issue was raised during the meeting of the 32nd ABU News Group in Katmandu, Nepal.

Dr Mohammad Mohsin, Nepalese Minister of Information and Communication, opened the meeting.

This was his first official duty as minister as he was just elected to the cabinet a few days earlier, the only Muslim in the 32-member cabinet.

In the welcoming address, Mr David Astley, the Secretary General of ABU, highlighted that this year's meeting included topics on the safety of journalists in the areas of conflict.

Due to publicity reasons, media personnel are now the targets of insurgents.

In his opening remarka, the newly-appointed Minister of Information and Communication said media channel is a very effective link between the state and the common people.

Johari Achee¸ Chairman of the News Group, in his remarks during the opening ceremony, welcomed Thailand and Mongolia as new members of the Asiavision News Exchange, which serves as the voice of Asia.

The 32nd ABU News Group meeting brings together over 30 representatives of the Asiavision News Exchange members, Associate organizations such as EVN - the Eurovision News Exchange (ASBU), The Arab State Broadcasting Union, and major news agencies such as APTN, Reuters, and CNN.

The two-day annual meeting discussed both operational and strategic issues among member countries of the ABU News Group which include Brunei, which holds the current chairmanship of the group.

The issue on the safety of journalists covering areas of armed conflicts, political rally and issue of insurance coverage have also been raised in the meeting.

The meeting also shared experiences of media personnel confronted in areas of conflicts.

The meeting came up with a suggestion to have a survival or safety training for journalists covering areas of conflicts.

World leading news agencies were reported to have undergone such courses by specialists in the field.

The meeting also decided to launch a second satellite news feed very soon to accommodate increasing number of news items and to enable same day coverage be shared by all member countries, which have different time zones.

Asiavision currently operates a half an hour news exchange satellite feed daily, coordinated by its centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Members of Asiavision comprise major television stations of the member countries, including Radio Television Brunei which has been a member since the establishment of Asiavision 20 years ago. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

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