EFJ and RSF Condemn Army Report on Media
The International Federation of Journalist and its regional group the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) called on the Turkish military to stop classifying journalists by their perceived attitude toward the military and using that classification to grant or deny press accreditations.
"We are calling on the Turkish military to immediately stop using this classification system and grant equal access to journalists who wish to cover its activities, regardless of whether they are critical of the military or not," said EFJ chair Arne König. "It is unethical for them to deny media access to information at their discretion and a blow to press freedom."
On another account, press freedom organization Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) said "We condemn this use of black-lists and these attempts to neutralise journalists by depriving them of their raw material, information" in relation to the incident.
RSF said it supported the protests voiced by the Turkish Association of Journalists (TGC), the Contemporary Association of Journalists (ÇGD), the Union of Journalists of Turkey (TGS) and the Press Council (Basın Konseyi) against the methods of the army high command and the prime minister's office.
Military assessment of media
The report, titled "A reassessment of accredited press and media organs" and dated November 2006, makes recommendations on whether the media accreditation for certain people should be granted, denied or revoked.
It was prepared by the media relations office that gives accreditation to journalists and media organizations that want to follow the activities of the Office of the Chief of General Staff.
The military has not denied the document's existence but has only launched a judicial probe to discover who leaked the information to the press.(EÖ/EÜ)