Palestinian Security Chief Rules Out Force to Free BBC Reporter

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Palestinian Security Chief Rules Out Force to Free BBC Reporter

Saying that negotiations to free kidnapped BBC Gaza reporter Alan Johnston have reached a “sensitive” stage, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh wants the world to know that he’s got the message.

follow-up to:

Middle East Warlords Use Journalists as Poker Chips - April 9, 2007
Every moment is a high-stakes poker game in the Middle East. News reporting is no longer about observation. Reporters are now bargaining chips.

Gaza and West Bank security chief Rashid Abu Shbak said force would not be used "so as not to endanger his life."

In interviews with several regional media Deputy Prime Minister Azzam al-Ahmed said the kidnappers keep making demands but “all the demands that were presented were rejected. It seems the abductors feel they are in real trouble.”

It has been speculated that one demand couples the release of Israeli soldier Galid Schalit with Johnston’s release in return for the release of Palestinian’s detained by Israel.

Mr. al-Ahmed identified the kidnappers as a criminal gang, supporting the widely held understanding that Johnston is being held for ransom rather than for political gain. Clearly the episode has been a nightmare, with the Palestinian Authority feeling the brunt.

The BBC reporters’ fate has focused international grumbling about the Palestinian Authorities authority.

BBC General Director Mark Thompson visited the Palestinian Territories…with an attention-getting message: we’re going to make you a news story. Rallies have been held by virtually every journalist organization in the world. The European Broadcasting Union issued a statement, followed by statements from the European Commission. EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel told Palestinian Authority officials that Alan Johnston and Corporal Schalit’s release is “crucial” to advancing peace in the region. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a statement to the General Assembly. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) visited with Mr. Haniyeh (May 1). Can you spell P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E!!

From the media side, the message is clear: journalists are not to be used as pawns. The message is equally clear from the political side: the Palestinian Authority must get its act together.

Alan Johnston, a 16 year BBC veteran of conflict zone reporting, was kidnapped March 12th. He is the only western journalist living and working in Gaza.(May 2, 2007)

Recently in Conflict Zones Radio Rides In To Rescue Middle East Peace Radio broadcasting’s long, distinguished tradition as a creative force in conflict zones turns a new chapter as an English language FM station based in Ramallah, Palestine takes to the air. At This Holiday Time : Remember The Little Ones A country’s “best” radio station is taken off the air. The West protests. The government shrugs. The story repeats. No More Free Radio/TV In Azerbaijan After smoldering for weeks, the Azeri government finally acted on its displeasure with television and radio broadcaster ANS. News accounts show a revolting picture of police surrounding the stations’ as authorities moved in to shut them down. Ogulsapar Muradova Died Violently Last Week. She Was a Journalist Just less than 90 days after being arrested by Turkmen authorities, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) free-lance reporter died in prison. She had been convicted at a trial lasting 10 minutes and sentenced to serve six years, effectively a life-time. She was 58 years old. Special Offer from ftm and the World Association of Newspapers Become an ftm member or renew your current membership and receive €99 discount on WAN Congress Capetown registration Apply here! Send ftm Your News!! news@followthemedia.com
	Palestinian Security Chief Rules Out Force to Free BBC Reporter Saying that negotiations to free kidnapped BBC Gaza reporter Alan Johnston have reached a “sensitive” stage, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh wants the world to know that he’s got the message. follow-up to: Middle East Warlords Use Journalists as Poker Chips - April 9, 2007 Every moment is a high-stakes poker game in the Middle East. News reporting is no longer about observation. Reporters are now bargaining chips. Gaza and West Bank security chief Rashid Abu Shbak said force would not be used "so as not to endanger his life." In interviews with several regional media Deputy Prime Minister Azzam al-Ahmed said the kidnappers keep making demands but “all the demands that were presented were rejected. It seems the abductors feel they are in real trouble.” It has been speculated that one demand couples the release of Israeli soldier Galid Schalit with Johnston’s release in return for the release of Palestinian’s detained by Israel. Mr. al-Ahmed identified the kidnappers as a criminal gang, supporting the widely held understanding that Johnston is being held for ransom rather than for political gain. Clearly the episode has been a nightmare, with the Palestinian Authority feeling the brunt. The BBC reporters’ fate has focused international grumbling about the Palestinian Authorities authority. BBC General Director Mark Thompson visited the Palestinian Territories…with an attention-getting message: we’re going to make you a news story. Rallies have been held by virtually every journalist organization in the world. The European Broadcasting Union issued a statement, followed by statements from the European Commission. EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel told Palestinian Authority officials that Alan Johnston and Corporal Schalit’s release is “crucial” to advancing peace in the region. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a statement to the General Assembly. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) visited with Mr. Haniyeh (May 1). Can you spell P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E!! From the media side, the message is clear: journalists are not to be used as pawns. The message is equally clear from the political side: the Palestinian Authority must get its act together. Alan Johnston, a 16 year BBC veteran of conflict zone reporting, was kidnapped March 12th. He is the only western journalist living and working in Gaza.(May 2, 2007) Keywords:journalists kidnapped,BBC News
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