Introduction of the "Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009"

INTRODUCTION OF THE "DANIEL PEARL FREEDOM OF THE PRESS ACT OF 2009"

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HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the "Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009"--legislation to highlight and promote freedom of the press worldwide. In early 2002, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan, just four months after 9/11. Lured from his apartment, Daniel was on his way to interview a Muslim fundamentalist when he was captured. Just two days before his abduction, Daniel had learned that his wife Mariane was expecting a baby boy. Although four of the kidnappers were convicted in July of 2002, seven other suspects, including those who allegedly helped murder Daniel Pearl, remain at large. Despite international outrage over this brutal murder, freedom of the press has continued to decline on a global scale. In 2006, Anna Politkovskaya, one of Russia's most prominent journalists, was shot dead in her apartment building. The investigative journalist, well known for her critical reports of the Kremlin's actions in Chechnya, is widely believed to be the victim of a politically motivated contract killing. Anna Politkovskaya was the 13th Russian journalist murdered during President Vladimir Putin's administration. One month ago, a jury in Moscow acquitted three men charged with her murder. Just two weeks ago, on March 17th, 2009, two American journalists were detained by the North Korean authorities while reporting on the plight of North Korean refugees in China. North Korea has accused the reporters of illegally entering North Korea from China and has stated the journalists will be indicted and tried for suspected hostile acts. Acts of violence against journalists continue to rise in frequency, with very few of the attacks resulting in prosecution. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2008 at least 41 journalists were killed in connection with their work, and 125 were imprisoned. As the level of violence directed at the press continues to rise, so too does the side effect of self-censorship. Legal mechanisms are also increasingly being used to restrict the media, both through overt censorship and through the use of laws that forbid "endangering national security" or "inciting hatred" by commenting on sensitive or anti-government topics. Freedom of expression cannot exist where journalists and the media are not independent and safe from persecution and attack. Our government must promote freedom of the press by putting on center stage those countries in which journalists are killed, imprisoned, kidnapped, threatened, or censored. Therefore, together with my colleague Congressman Pence, I am introducing legislation which calls upon the Secretary of State to submit an annual report of on the status of freedom of the press worldwide, bringing attention to those governments, extremists, and criminal groups which seek to silence opposition. To further this effort, my legislation also establishes a grant program aimed at broadening and strengthening the independence of journalists and media organizations. Too often media assistance programs are short-term, ranging from one year projects to weekend workshops, and are buried as a second thought under broader human rights programs. The Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 will give prominence to freedom of the press projects within the State Department, and ensure a long-term, holistic approach to journalist and media development. Please join me in this effort to promote freedom of the press worldwide.