Tunisian journalists on strike to defend freedom of expression
Tunisian journalists are staging a strike during the whole day on Wednesday to demand the establishment of freedom of expression.trouble has been brewing between the Ennhada led government and journalists for sometime and the strike draws attention to widespread concerns over freedom expression in Tunisian society.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisian-journa...
The TAP website is running a skeleton service. it says that the resort to general strike has been decided by the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) after the failure of dialogue and on account of the persistent refusal of the government to meet the demands of journalists and all the media staff, reads the general motion of the SNJT extended executive committee dated last September 25.
The journalists demand freedom of expression, and freedom of the press and of creation without reservation in the new Constitution. Theycall for the enforcing government decrees n°115 and 116 , setting up the Independent broadcasting regulatory authority as soon as possible, and rejection of draft laws providing for penalties against journalists or restricting freedom of the press or expression.
They call for the securing journalists' right of access to information, in accordance with government decree n°41 dated 2011. The revision of recent appointments in public media and media in receivership, including ''Dar Essabah'', and the cancelling of decisions taken to this end while regarding the appointments to these posts of people involved in the propaganda of the former regime of Ben Ali as a violation of the Tunisian Revolution objectives.
The journalists say that management and editorial staff, should be separated and they callfor the setting up of editorial committees by elections or consensus so that they can work out the editorial staff charter and revision of already written texts.
They categorically reject any violation of freedom of unions, any restrictions and penalties on journalists for their union positions and refusing any deduction from striking journalists' wages.
They demand the resolution of insecure situations in the different media; rejecting illegal recruitment methods; ensuring transparency in competitive exams, on the basis of skills and in accordance with the provisions of the labour law and its relevant conventions.
They call for reinstating journalists who have been unfairly dismissed or those whose contracts have been ended, or else those transferred without taking into account the legal procedures in force within the Tunisian radio broadcasting institution.
They demand that Dar Essabah journalists' back wages be converted into shares in the enterprise capital and setting up of an editors' company.
They also call for the criminalising physical and material attacks on journalists and the sector staff and opening a serious investigation into these violations and the revision of the composition of the board of directors of Tunisia's television broadcasting authority in conformity with international standards.
Finally they demand the adoption of a standard collective agreement for all Tunisian journalists and the fair distribution of public advertising amongst publications.
The euphoria of post revolutionary freedom of expression did not last long. For months, tensions have mounted between journalists,artists and secular society and the islamist led Ennhada led government with a number of high profile casss such as Nessma TV and Ettounsiya TV. the journalists argue that their right to write freely has been repeatedly violated often with menaces fromsalafist groups. International media has highlighted the situation and investors have also become concerned. Standard & Poors recently down graded Tunisia and expressed its concern over the growing in stability and discord evident in Tunisian society.
The journalists demand freedom of expression, and freedom of the press and of creation without reservation in the new Constitution. Theycall for the enforcing government decrees n°115 and 116 , setting up the Independent broadcasting regulatory authority as soon as possible, and rejection of draft laws providing for penalties against journalists or restricting freedom of the press or expression.
They call for the securing journalists' right of access to information, in accordance with government decree n°41 dated 2011. The revision of recent appointments in public media and media in receivership, including ''Dar Essabah'', and the cancelling of decisions taken to this end while regarding the appointments to these posts of people involved in the propaganda of the former regime of Ben Ali as a violation of the Tunisian Revolution objectives.
The journalists say that management and editorial staff, should be separated and they callfor the setting up of editorial committees by elections or consensus so that they can work out the editorial staff charter and revision of already written texts.
They categorically reject any violation of freedom of unions, any restrictions and penalties on journalists for their union positions and refusing any deduction from striking journalists' wages.
They demand the resolution of insecure situations in the different media; rejecting illegal recruitment methods; ensuring transparency in competitive exams, on the basis of skills and in accordance with the provisions of the labour law and its relevant conventions.
They call for reinstating journalists who have been unfairly dismissed or those whose contracts have been ended, or else those transferred without taking into account the legal procedures in force within the Tunisian radio broadcasting institution.
They demand that Dar Essabah journalists' back wages be converted into shares in the enterprise capital and setting up of an editors' company.
They also call for the criminalising physical and material attacks on journalists and the sector staff and opening a serious investigation into these violations and the revision of the composition of the board of directors of Tunisia's television broadcasting authority in conformity with international standards.
Finally they demand the adoption of a standard collective agreement for all Tunisian journalists and the fair distribution of public advertising amongst publications.
The euphoria of post revolutionary freedom of expression did not last long. For months, tensions have mounted between journalists,artists and secular society and the islamist led Ennhada led government with a number of high profile casss such as Nessma TV and Ettounsiya TV. the journalists argue that their right to write freely has been repeatedly violated often with menaces fromsalafist groups. International media has highlighted the situation and investors have also become concerned. Standard & Poors recently down graded Tunisia and expressed its concern over the growing in stability and discord evident in Tunisian society.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisian-journa...