Press Release
German foundation gives its highest award to Pakistani Tribal Union of
Journalists
Berlin: The German Foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung or FES gives its highest human rights award to
the tribal union of journalist or TUJ, FATA. This award is recognition of the work done by the journalists
in FATA. TUJ has worked for 20 years to consolidate media freedom and freedom of expression in the
region. It represents around 250 journalists in the FATA, working for local, national and international
print and electronic media. It was founded in 1987 by a group of local journalists.
The award ceremony started with the public panel discussion on the topic of “reporters within borders:
Pakistani journalists for truth in conflict”. The speakers were renowned Pakistani journalist Rahimullah
Yousafzai, and the investigative journalist Ulrich Tilgner, who had covered all Gulf Wars. They discussed
the difficulties faced by the local reporters on the ground. Tilgner said, ‘German TV channels are not
interested in sending its reporters to Afghanistan or Pakistan to do reports. What they do is, work with
the local journalists. ” Yousafzai said, the work done by the local reporters is neither recognized nor well
paid. ‘The local reporters on the ground in FATA risk their lives and receive reports for the foreign
journalists’ working from their comfortable offices in London, New York or Paris. ‘ He further said the
journalists sitting abroad have very pointed questions that at times risk the lives of the local reporters.
After the panel discussion, a short documentary ‘Theater of conflict: reporting from FATA was shown.
The documentary highlighted the problems faced by the families of the journalists who were killed in the
line of duty.
The laudatory speech was given by Johannes Pflug, member of the German parliament, deputy chair of
the task force Afghanistan-Pakistan of the SPD parliamentary group. He applauded the efforts of TUJ, ‘I
appreciate the efforts of the tribal journalists who live in constant fear and many of them had to leave
their homes in FATA due to threats but they are brave and still continue to work about FATA.’ He
congratulated Safdar Dawar for receiving the award. Johannes Pflug said, ‘Safdar and his colleagues face
many problems due to the FCR that restricts the rights to freedom of expressions and abuse human
rights in FATA. It makes FATA the black box of information in the world. There is not a single local
newspapers or TV channel in FATA because the FCR restrict the locals of having it. ‘
The chairman of the FES and former minister of defense, Peter Struck, presented the award to the
President of TUJ Safdar Dawar. Safdar Dawar received the award and remembered the 12 journalists
that had lost their lives the line of duty. He pointed out that no political reforms are possible without the
media reforms in FATA. “The lack of a strong press in FATA leads to the lack of communication,
misunderstanding and the wild spread of rumors. For the reconstruction of the social fabric of the
otherwise egalitarian society in the tribal areas, the development of media is very important.” He
thanked organizations such as Internews, Intermedia, FES, Mediothek, RFL which proved the tribal
journalists with regular trainings.
TUJ has lost 12 journalists until today. The last tribal journalist assassinated was Mukharram Khan Atif.
He was killed in a mosque in January this year.
The Human Rights Award, presented for the first time in 1994, dates back to the legacy of Karl and Ida
Feist from Hamburg. The couple stipulated in their will that their fortune be administered by the fund,
which is to present a Human Rights Award once a year. Karl and Ida Feist actively supported the labour
movement for many years. Their own bitter experiences with war and destruction led them to advocate
peace and non-violence. According to the donators, the Human Rights Award should be awarded to
individuals or organisations that rendered outstanding services for human rights in the different parts of
the world.
For more info:
www.tuj.com.pk
Fes-pakistan.org
http://www.fes.de/themen/menschenrechtspreis/en/mrp2012.php