OSCE media freedom representative condemns arrest of journalists covering protest at U.S. military base
VIENNA, 23 November 2010 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, today condemned the detention and arrest over the weekend of several journalists covering demonstrations outside the Fort Benning military base in Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
A television crew from Russia Today, Kaelyn Forde and Jonathan R. Conway, on Monday were found guilty of violating city ordinances. Each paid a $290 fine.
Mijatovic wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express her disappointment with the actions of local police.
"The fact that local police officers would detain, handcuff and arrest members of the press as they engaged in their duty to report on a public event is disturbing," Mijatovic said.
"While it is clear that police play a crucial role in maintaining order during public demonstrations, the indiscriminate rounding up of media and bringing charges against them goes well beyond what is necessary to keep the peace," Mijatovic said.
She asked for a thorough and independent investigation of the incident.
Mijatovic also noted that her office had a special report, Handling of the media during political demonstrations, and offered to share the expertise of her office with law-enforcement agencies.