UNESCO condemns NATO airstrike which killed three Libyan media workers

UNESCO condemns NATO airstrike which killed three Libyan media workers

2011-08-09 04:54:16 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday condemned a NATO airstrike last month which reportedly resulted in the deaths of three people working for Libyan state-run television.

The airstrike happened on July 30 when NATO aircraft struck three ground-based Libyan state television satellite transmision dishes in Tripoli, the capital of Libya. It reportedly left three media workers killed and 21 others injured.

"I deplore the NATO strike on Al-Jamahiriya and its installations," UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said. "Media outlets should not be targeted in military actions. U.N. Security Council Resolution 1738 (2006) condemns acts of violence against journalists and media personnel in conflict situations."

Bokova said the NATO strike is also contrary to the principles of the Geneva Convention which identifies journalists as civilians in state of war, even if they engage in propaganda. "Silencing the media is never a solution. Fostering independent and pluralistic media is the only way to enable people to form their own opinion," the UNESCO chief said.

Previously, NATO spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie said the intent of the strike was to degrade Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's use of satellite television as a means to "intimidate the Libyan people and incite acts of violence against them."

"Our intervention was necessary as TV was being used as an integral component of the regime apparatus designed to systematically oppress and threaten civilians and to incite attacks against them," Lavoire said. "Gaddafi's increasing practice of inflammatory broadcasts illustrates his regime's policy to instill hatred among Libyans, to mobilize its supporters against civilians and to trigger bloodshed. In light of our mandate to protect civilian lives, we had to act."

Libya has been engulfed in a civil war since an uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's regime began in mid-February, while Libyan forces have been accused of violently cracking down on anti-government protesters. It led to UN Security Council Resolution 1973 which authorized member states to impose a no-fly zone over the North African country and to take 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians.

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