Reporters Without Borders condemns attack on TV correspondent in Gaza

Reporters Without Borders spoke out angrily against an assault on a correspondent in Gaza for the Arab TV channel Al-Arabiya, Saifeddine Chahine.The international press freedom movement said the 8 January attack appeared to be linked to his coverage of the Palestinian Fatah movement of President Yasser Arafat. Five hooded and armed men attacked Chahine, correspondent for the 24-hour news channel in the Gaza Strip, as he drove to his office in Gaza City. During an attack lasting around ten minutes, he was beaten and his assailants also fired shots in the air. One of them, who described himself as a member of the Fatah movement, said he would "give (him) a lesson in journalism". Chahine is receiving treatment for multiple injuries in a Gaza hospital. A Fatah leader later denied any involvement in the attack by his movement. However the attack on the journalist could be linked to his coverage of celebrations on the anniversary of the founding of Fatah. Condemning the assault and threats against a journalist covering the situation in the territories under Palestinian Authority control, Reporters Without Borders called on organisations and political factions to respect the media's editorial decisions. It also urged the Palestinian Authority to carry out a rapid and full investigation so that the instigators of these press freedom violations could be punished. Failing this, one can only fear an increase in such reprisals towards Palestinian and foreign journalists, it said. This was the second attack against the TV channel in less than five months. The management of the Dubai-based firm, reached by telephone, also called for the immediate opening of an investigation and for punishment of those responsible. In September 2003, the offices of Al-Arabiya in Ramallah, on the Occupied West Bank were raided by a group of armed men describing themselves as belonging to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. They threatened the journalists and ordered them to leave town. Yasser Arafat condemned the incident and promised the company that it would be fully investigated.