Twelve journalists, including one in India, were killed in South Asia this year, mostly in conflict areas, according to a report by the South Asia Media Commission.
‘South Asia Media Monitor 2009’ released on Tuesday described this year as another year with high number of casualties in South Asia.
The report said that over-commercialisation, monopolisation and excessive political clout chipped professional and ethical norms, especially in India and Pakistan in 2009.
There has been a rise in violent incidents reported from India. Maximum seven deaths were reported from Pakistan.
Journalists in Sri Lanka have suffered the worst adversities by all standards, considerably more serious than the travails that counterparts in Pakistan have faced, the report said.
Coordinator of the South Asia Media Commission K K Katyal said, “This South Asia Media Monitor report has been prepared on the basis of published reports which have not been contradicted. This report shows the enormity of crime against journalists and rise in risk to media persons’ lives”.
Deploring the evident deterioration in media freedom, the Media Commission noted that the most challenging issues faced by journalists are violence directed by state and non-state actors engaged in war, and bureaucratic and legislative efforts to silence dissent and erosion of editorial control.
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