الاتحاد الكاثوليكي العالمي للصحافة- لبنان اوسيب – لبنان
Antelias, April 1 st, 2005
The World Forum of Professionals in the Secular and Religious Media (UCIP Liban) condemns the direct and indirect threats addressed in the last weeks to certain Lebanese reporters and Lebanese media institutions, such as the threat of bombing some offices, put an illusionary bomb in the front door of the Head of the press, personal telephonic threats from unknown persons to reporters, carrying too far the disorder apt to aggravate under the absence or the silence of the officials.
1 – The Lebanese press was and still a pioneer in holding the flambeau of the freedom and leading the independence movements that Lebanon experienced after the Ottoman regime, the French mandate, and the hegemony of local and stranger militias through the last wars. The scaffolds of the Tower Square, names as Nassib Al Matni, Kamel Mouroué, Riyad Taha, Salim Al Lawzi and other martyrs of the Lebanese press, are still in the memory of every publicist as an example of belief in Lebanese issues till martyrdom. A press possessing such patrimony of courage and devotion will not fear today these threats.
2 – The Lebanese press leads today the wedding of freedom in Lebanon, and inspires in consequence its colleagues in the Arab World. It is loyal to its mission and decided to keep on carrying the renaissance mission which drove the Arab World out from the despotism era to the light era at the hands of its pioneers such as Nassif Al Yazigi, Ahmed Faress Al Chidyak and Boutros Al Boustani. Today, the press has a major role in driving the Arab World out form the uni – power regimes toward the cultural horizon of participation, recognition of the other, democratic dialogue and creative coexistence between various religions, confessions and races.
3 – The major role of the Lebanese mass media is evident in its historical path which is convenient for the human rights and the new independence needs. The history will mention this role which is as important as the role of the first press martyrs.
4 – Today, the Lebanese press assumes another primordial role, the preparation to the period after the security system in Lebanon, or the participation in setting out elites and new political leaderships in order to drive Lebanon out from the partnership era prevailed since 1943, a situation which prevented the creation of real institutions in Lebanon and paved the way for consecutive wars on its territories. Changing the political mentality and the governing elites constitutes an essential act for the future of Lebanon. Therefore, our press is executing a primordial role by continuing the consolidation of the dialogue between different vital forces in the nation.
5 – Private and public freedoms are part of essential constituents of Lebanon. Is mistaken the person who thinks that he can keep it away. Thus, the efforts exerted today by some harmed parties from the holding of free legislative elections will not succeed in putting an end to the independence intifada so that Lebanon regains its sovereignty, and the Lebanese regain their complete freedoms.
6 – The World Forum of Professionals in the Secular and Religious Media (UCIP Liban), appreciating the pioneer role of Lebanese mass media in leading and defining the opinion, wishes that all publicists and all media institutions, mainly the Christian ones, commit themselves to professional morality, consolidating and considering it a primordial part of the identity of Lebanon.
Translated by: Joyce Tary
