Zimbabwe Not Safe For Journos

Date: 06 February 2003

The Media Alliance and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today protested to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over their declaration that Zimbabwe is a "safe venue" for cricketers, while ignoring a pattern of violence against media and journalists and attempts by the regime of Robert Mugabe to gag sports reporters who cover the World Cup Cricket competition. The IFJ has also written to News Corporation, asking them to lift the penalty clauses, which could force the cricket authorities to pay $2 million a game for losses of broadcast revenue.

The ICC has baulked at venue changes or match cancellations that could result in a loss of revenue for media rights owners. Any disruption could potentially incur a $2 million contractual payment to the official broadcaster, Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.

Alliance Federal Secretary and IFJ President, Christopher Warren, says the arguments go beyond the choice faced by individual cricketers and their personal safety.

"We cannot ignore the fact that journalists who work in Zimbabwe, whether covering cricket or not, face intimidation, threats and prosecution if they fall foul of the government," he said.

The IFJ has at the same time protested strongly to President Robert Mugabe about attempts to force reporters coming to Zimbabwe to report on the cricket matches to sign gagging orders that will stop them reporting on events other than cricketing activities.

For further information

Contact:	Christopher Warren
Union:	MEAA
Phone:	02 9333 0999
Contact Mobile:	0411 757668
Fax:	02 9333 0933
Email:	mail@alliance.org.au
WWW:	http://www.alliance.org.au

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