Commonwealth journalists discuss reporting of conflict
26 February 2004
Journalists from Commonwealth countries who met in Belfast, UK, on 11-14 February 2004 called on governments to desist from using them for their own ends.
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| British Army patrol in Sandy Row. Tensions were particularly high because of the marching season. |
"We asked our governments not to put journalists under pressure to be mouthpieces for government propaganda during times of conflict," said organiser Barry Low, Director of Projects at the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA). "The focus of the conference was the role of reporters in times of conflict, and we agreed that reporters should play their part in promoting peace and reconciliation. We also asked for more protection by governments of journalists working in combat zones."
At the four-day conference, organised by the CJA, a number of long-running disputes were examined. The conference also examined conflicts rooted in civil disorder.
Monica McWilliams, founder of Northern Ireland's Women's Coalition, described the efforts that went into the Good Friday Agreement, which sought to halt Northern Ireland's civil conflict.
The conference was opened by former BBC war correspondent and ex-independent Member of Parliament Martin Bell.
Participants were invited by Northern Ireland politicians to a reception at Stormont, which houses the currently suspended Northern Ireland Assembly. The mayor of Belfast also hosted participants with a reception at City Hall.
For the last day of the conference the participants moved to Londonderry, where their arrival coincided with the final session of the long-running Bloody Sunday inquiry. At a dinner hosted by city tourism leaders they met some of the key witnesses at the inquiry.
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