IPI takes on new role as monitor p. 13

By: Robert U. Brown

Will protect journalists during S. African election campaign sp.

THE 43RD GENERAL assembly of the International Press Institute, held in Cape Town, South Africa, in mid-February, voted to take on a new role as an international media monitor to protect journalists during the final 10 days of the forthcoming election campaign in that country April 20-28.
The largest number of attendees in IPI history heard numerous speakers attest to press freedom in South Africa but also heard them speak of the threats that brought fear to many journalists trying to do their jobs there.
Responding to a warning by new IPI director Johann Fritz that threats against journalists were likely to increase but it soon would be too late to verify reports and recommend action, the IPI approved the arrangements for international monitors.
The proposal was endorsed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, which Fritz said would cooperate closely with the IPI.
The media monitors would come from the United States, Taiwan, Austria, Indonesia, Finland, Sweden and Canada. Volunteers who would pay their expenses would be welcome, it was announced.
A program arranged by the South African press brought to the IPI podium the four top political leaders in the country ? three of them Nobel Peace Prize winners.
South African President F.W. de Klerk, African National Congress president Nelson Mandela and Zulu chieftain Mangosuthu Buthelezi gave varying testimony to the importance of a free press ? with various degrees of caution about overdoing it.
But Bishop Desmond Tutu brought down the house with his unconditional statement and thanks to the international media for bringing about the change and forthcoming elections. Saying he had waited 62 years to be able to vote in his country, he told IPI members, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
The cause of press freedom in South Africa was upheld and promoted by a consortium of international and national press groups that met concurrently with the IPI. Chief officers and representatives of the IPI, UNESCO, Inter American Press Association, Newspaper Association of America, International Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FIEJ), Periodical Press and national associations in Japan, Norway and Portugal urged all the parties seeking power in South Africa to commit themselves to defend the rights of media to inquire, publish and distribute freely; to uphold the right of access to all public areas; and to oppose restrictions that might obstruct the development and distribution of a diversified press.
Delegates also approved establishment of an "IPI Press Freedom Fund" sponsorship appeal by which current members may help journalists who are not able to pay IPI membership fees or to afford the expense of attending meetings.
"I do not want the IPI to degenerate into a 'rich man's club.' If we want its scope of operations to continue to be universal, we must act without delay," Fritz said, urging members to take up individual sponsorships of colleagues from less fortunate areas.
David Laventhol, editor at large of the Los Angeles Times, was re-elected IPI chairman for a second term.