septembre 21, 2022
People’s Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists Convicts Mexico, Sri Lanka and Syria
The Hague, September 20, 2022 – The independent panel of judges of the People’s Tribunal pronounced its judgment yesterday in a trio of cases of murdered journalists. The unanimous verdict concluded that “throughout their acts and omissions including the lack of investigations, the lack of reparation to the victims, and full impunity, the states of Mexico, Sri Lanka and Syria are guilty of all human rights violations brought against them in the indictment by the Prosecution.” The verdict was broadcast live and recordings can be watched in English, Arabic and Spanish.
This
symbolic act of justice represents a meaningful international
recognition of the complicity of these states in impunity for the
murders of Miguel Ángel López Velasco (Mexico), Lasantha
Wickrematunge (Sri Lanka) and Nabil Al-Sharbaji (Syria). The cases
also create an important record of evidence and testimony for any
future proceedings, and elevate the importance of holding states
internationally accountable for failing to protect journalists and
investigate and prosecute those who murder them.
Over 100 participants including colleagues, relatives and friends of
journalists who were killed in reprisal of their work, gathered to
hear the verdict first-hand. The tribunal, though symbolic in nature,
aims to make a concrete contribution to the fight against impunity.
Christophe Deloire, Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders,
said “the fact that we have this tribunal is the first sign of
hope. Though your tribunal does not have the capacity to put the
perpetrators behind bars, you have the capacity to name and shame.”
To
that end, the judges delivered the following verdict:
“In
view of the overwhelming and compelling evidence consisting of
witness testimony including that of expert witnesses and those with
personal experience; very substantial written documentation from
individuals and organisations, the Tribunal has unanimously made the
following finding:
Through
their acts and omissions (the lack of investigation, the lack of
reparation to the victims, and the full impunity) the States of
Mexico, Sri Lanka and Syria are guilty of all of the human rights
violations brought against them in the indictment.”
The
indicted states were informed timely of their rights to a defense,
but none of them responded or offered a defense.
The
judges called out the lack of action on the part of states and
offered powerful recommendations to states and the international
community to take action. The recommendations and full judgment will
be available soon via www.saferworldforthetruth.com/tribunal.
That call was reiterated by one of the panel members who commented on
the judgment, Nadim Houry, saying: "It's
time to be bolder. We need to push the UN to get out of its comfort
zone.”
After the verdict, a ceremony took place to commemorate all journalists who have lost their lives in reprisal for their work. Photos of journalists from all over the world, including Mexico, Afghanistan, Serbia and many other countries were brought to the empty chairs representing all the journalists who were killed in the line of duty.
Mexican journalist Anabel Hérnandez made a moving speech talking
about the right to freedom of information and said “[these
journalists] did not die to defend their own freedom of expression.
They died for the right of society to be informed. The goal of their
assasination was not just to silence their voices, but to deprive
society from the tools it needs to decide the course of its history.
They are no longer here. Because of their absence, there are white
pages that will forever remain empty without their words, without
their voice, without their free thought.”
Participants in the closing hearing included three members of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom: Baroness Helena Kennedy, Nadim Houry and Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji. The High Level Panel which also includes Amal Clooney, advises the Media Freedom Coalition and is now leading the way for proposals to conduct and support investigations into violence against journalists worldwide.
The Tribunal brought forward unique evidence, including cell site data implicating the involvement of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, president of Sri Lanka until July 2022. Key experts such as Mexican investigative journalist Anabel Hernández, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, and one of Syria’s most renowned human rights activists Mazen Darwish have also contributed key evidence in the form of witness testimony, joined by (former) police inspectors and prosecutors, representatives of the United Nations and the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom.
Notes
for editors [not for publication]:
A
Safer World For The Truth is a collaboration between Free
Press Unlimited (FPU), Reporters
Without Borders (RSF) and the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). We investigate
murders through a series of cold case investigations to push for
justice on the national level, and we organize the People’s
Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists to put a spotlight on states’
obligation to protect journalists and to investigate all attacks
against them. To learn more about the project, visit our website
https://www.saferworldforthetruth.com/.
Spokespeople
are available for interviews in Dutch, French, Spanish, and English:
Committee
to Protect Journalists contact (New York City): press@cpj.org
Free Press Unlimited contact (Amsterdam): muller@freepressunlimited.org | +31 682091209
Reporters Sans Frontières (Paris): padesmevel@rsf.org