Main focus of Thursday, February 23, 2012

Assad continues killing unimpeded

Syrians also protest against the regime from abroad, here in Jordania.(© AP)

Two Western journalists, Marie Colvin und Rémi Ochlik, were killed  during an artillery attack by Syrian troops on the opposition stronghold of Homs on Wednesday. The dictator Bashar al-Assad is responsible for 5,000 deaths since the start of the protests. Commentators rebuke the Western politicians for their inactivity and praise the dangerous but necessary work of war correspondents.

The Guardian - United Kingdom

Marie Colvin, the US war correspondent killed in Homs, was convinced of the importance of the job she was doing. The left-liberal daily The Guardian reprints a speech given by Colvin at a service for disabled war veterans in London in November 2010: "Covering a war means going to places torn by chaos, destruction and death, and trying to bear witness. It means trying to find the truth in a sandstorm of propaganda when armies, tribes or terrorists clash. And yes, it means taking risks. ... Our mission is to report these horrors of war with accuracy and without prejudice. We always have to ask ourselves whether the level of risk is worth the story. What is bravery, and what is bravado? Journalists covering combat shoulder great responsibilities and face difficult choices. Sometimes they pay the ultimate price." (23/02/2012)

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Who's saying what » Arabs fight for freedom

Libération - France

The reporters' deaths highlight how important journalists are in the fight against dictatorial oppression, the left-liberal daily Libération writes: "It is clear from the deaths of Marie Colvin and Rémi Ochlik that in his effort to cling on to power, Bashar al-Assad is deliberately targeting the witnesses of his barbarity. The Syrian dictator's artillerymen fired on the improvised 'press centre' that served to report on the horrific massive bombardments of the civilian population. ... The death of these reporters reminds critics of the media, as well as those who believe that everything is available on the web, that there are men and women who are ready to risk their lives to keep people informed. Without their reports Assad - like so many others before him - could have continued killing and torturing his people with impunity. Their stories and their images may seem like weak barricades against the flood of barbarity. But this makes them all the more important." (23/02/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Online media, » Media, » France, » Middle East, » Syria
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Who's saying what » Arabs fight for freedom

De Morgen - Belgium

At least 120 people have been killed in the past two days in attacks on the Syrian city of Homs, including two Western journalists. The left-liberal daily De Morgen accuses the West of passivity: "The political leaders have harshly condemned Assad and lamented the number of civil victims. But lamenting won't save lives. Since the failed resolution in the UN Security Council almost a month ago Western politicians have done little or nothing to break through the blockade. Russia and China are the scapegoats behind which everyone can hide. The debate is marked by a lack of resolution and sense of urgency. And this despite the fact that in such an urgent situation one could expect every possible step that could lead to concrete action to be considered: resuming negotiations with Russia, shuttle diplomacy, direct talks with Assad, cutting off Damascus militarily. But nothing is happening." (23/02/2012)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Syria
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Who's saying what » Arabs fight for freedom

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