IPI Public Statements

Resolutions passed by the 44th IPI General Assembly

17 May 1995

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

RESOLUTION ON NORTH KOREA

North Korea is now the most isolated and secretive society in the world, with no free flow of information, international editors and publishers agreed in Seoul, Korea. They urge major changes to open the society for the benefit of its people.

The 44^th General Assembly of the International Press Institute, representing editors and media executives in 85 countries, stresses that free communication is the key to all other freedoms and to the growth and quality of human rights.

IPI therefore strongly urges the government of North Korea to:

- Open its society to free access and travel by all journalists.

- Permit free speech and communication so that democratic debate can begin.

- Enable open communication between millions of families torn apart by the division of the Peninsula half a century ago, who are not even allowed to write letters to each other.

RESOLUTION ON ALGERIA

The International Press Institute representing editors and media executives from more than 85 countries condemns most strongly the murders of more than 40 journalists in Algeria since the beginning of the current wave of violence. All journalists are shocked by the extent and cruelty of these murders and other acts of violence.

Algerian Moslem fundamentalists have targeted journalists to prevent the free flow of information into and our of Algeria, and to intimidate opponents into silence. This has greatly increased the general level of violence in the country.

The Algerian government has used suspension of newspapers and other methods to prevent criticism. The security organs have been given wide powers, leading to serious deterioration in civil rights.

The IPI urges all sides to spot using violence against opponents and to begin a dialogue as soon as possible. Murder and harassment of journalists must end; information is essential for resolving the crisis.

RESOLUTION ON BURMA

The 44^th Annual Assembly of the International Press Institute, in Seoul, Korea, expresses extreme concern over continuing brutality of the military regime in Myanmar (formerly Burma) in its attacks on free speech in the media and other areas of society.

Critical voices are ruthlessly silenced, some, reportedly, through torture, by a Junta claiming that democracy and human rights are western concepts opposed to national culture.

IPI, representing editors and media executives in 85 countries, calls on the Myanmar government to permit the freedom of expression and of the press set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

RESOLUTION ON NON-DEMOCRATIC MEDIA CONTROL

The General Assembly of the International Press Institute, meeting in Seoul, Korea, deplores continuing government control of the press and mass media in countries that profess to be democratic.

Editors and media executives from around the world were told that Indonesia and Singapore still rigidly supervise not only their own media, but hinder foreign media seeking news and information.

The Indonesian government continues the closure of prominent publications and suppression of journalists.

Singapore uses security laws to intimidate journalists. International publications have been harassed and punished for "offences" that are not considered as such in other countries.

Malaysia, too, uses an internal security law to clamp down on dissent.

IPI condemns this repressive silencing of opposition voices and demands that these regimes permit full freedom of expression and of the press and the participation of all citizens in the country�s political process.

RESOLUTION ON CHECHNYA

Killing and harassment of journalists covering the war in Chechnya means the world is not learning the true nature and scale of the tragedy there, the International Press Institute was told in Seoul, Korea.

The 44^th General Assembly, representing editors and media executives from 85 countries protest that Russian authorities continue obstructing access to battlefield information.

They note that lack of complete and objective information continues to blur the pictures.

They urge the Russian authorities to improve access because present developments threaten the whole democratic process in Russia.

REPORTS

Read Global Overviews

IPI provides links to other Internet sites only for the convenience of its visitors. IPI is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor does IPI endorse, guarantee or warrant the information, services or products available at these sites.

IPI MEMBERS LOGIN