WRITTEN QUESTION E-3382/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Council

(7 December 2001)

Subject: Assassination of four journalists in Afghanistan

On 19 november 2001, four journalists, including the one dispatched by the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Maria Grazia Cutuli, were assassinated in Afghanistan, on the road between Jalalabad and Kabul. They were travelling in a convoy of vehicles and were in the first car the only one to be caught in the tragic homicidal ambush and to be drawn away from the rest of the convoy. The final article written by the Italian journalist was the fruit of an investigation carried out in association with the Spanish reporter from the El Mundo newspaper concerning the discovery of phials of nerve gas in the hands of Al Q'aeda militiamen. The driver and an interpreter who were travelling with the four journalists were allowed to flee; they were able to spread the news of what had happened and ensure that the rest of the convoy turned back. This latter circumstance, together with the fact that no items were stolen, suggests that the act was not a robbery or a demonstration against foreign journalists (one of those killed was in fact an Afghan), but purely and simply an execution.

Is the Council aware of any facts other than those which were published in the media?

Does it intend to carry out an investigation using the means available to governments with a view to establishing whether or not the homicidal ambush was premeditated and ordered by someone who could have had an interest in silencing any voices capable of reporting the fact that members of Al Q'aeda had chemical weapons in their possession?

Does the Council not think that, in order to prevent chemical weapons of this type from being used (for the time being at least), the investigation should be widened to include possible links established with other terrorist groups or with governments from other countries for the purpose of manufacturing and selling such weapons?

Does the Council not think that armed escorts should be made available to journalists who provide an important (indeed essential) news-reporting service in war zones?

Reply

(13 May 2002)

1. The Council deeply regrets the assassination of four journalists in Afghanistan on 19 November and, in its conclusions of 10 December 2001, referred to the urgent need to improve media security. However, the Council has no knowledge of this incident other than what has been reported in the media.

2. Given the prevailing insecurity and the current particular political and military situation in Afghanistan, the Council can see no way in which the EU could conduct an in-depth investigation there in order to establish whether the ambush that cost the lives of the journalists was premeditated and ordered. However, the Union will endeavour to obtain more detailed information on the assasinations in cooperation with the Member States' diplomatic representations in Kabul.

3. Whether or not the new Interim Administration in Kabul will be in a position to guarantee the safety of journalists throughout the territory of Afghanistan even under military escort will become clear as the situation develops over the coming weeks. It is questionable whether permanent military protection is beneficial to press freedom.