Greek Cypriot TV crews to boycott north in protest

Greek Cypriot media are boycotting the coverage of all events in the north for the next two weeks in response to recent arrests of three crews of journalists and TV cameramen by the Turkish occupation forces.

The decision was taken at a meeting Tuesday between representatives of the Journalists Union, publishers, television channels and the union of cameramen. The latter fear further arrests by the Turkish forces.

A joint statement said journalists had the right under the UN charter to carry out their work unhindered.

The statement also called on the UN, the EU and other international organisations to demand the protection of journalists, adding that this issue will be put forward to the two community representatives during their UN-sponsored meetings towards achieving confidence building measures.

“The occupying regime has declared open war with the kidnapping over the past two months of personnel from three television channels who were carrying out their journalistic work,” said the statement.