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JOURNALIST-KILLING-PEC
Number of killed journalists up 32 pct in first half of 2018: PEC
GENEVA, July 3, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – The Geneva-based non-governmental
organization Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) on Tuesday said that at least 66
journalists were killed in 22 countries in the first half of this year, up 32
percent compared with the same period of last year.
PEC said that five countries represent more than half of the fatalities:
Afghanistan, Mexico, Syria, the United States and Yemen.
Terrorist groups in Afghanistan and criminal groups in Mexico bear the
main responsibility of the high price paid by media workers, the organization
said, adding that while in Yemen and Syria, journalists were killed in
fighting while covering the ongoing conflict.
In the United States, however, a climate of hatred against the media could
have caused the deadly attack on a Maryland newspaper, it said.
Founded in June 2004, the PEC aims to strengthen the legal protection and
safety of journalists in conflict zones, areas of civil unrest, or on
dangerous missions.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/1845 hrs