Right Honourable Tony Blair MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1

Vienna, 3 October 1997

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, broadcasting organizations and news agencies in over 100 countries, is deeply disturbed over the alarming frequency of press freedom violations witnessed in the Commonwealth countries. Indeed, to a large extent, it can be offered that the list of Commonwealth members reads like a Who’s Who of press freedom enemies. This is not an exaggeration and, it appears, the situation is deteriorating.

The case of Nigeria has drawn widespread international attention. IPI fully supports and appreciates the firm stance that the Commonwealth took following the disgraceful executions of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other minority rights activists. Nigeria is, however, not alone. The Commonwealth’s inertia with regard to the many flagrant violations of the fundamental right to express one’s opinion appears to indicate a tacit acceptance; an acceptance that is considered by many to be politically motivated. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – to which, if I may respectfully remind you, every Commonwealth country is a signatory – is quite simply, not adhered to. We would ask you to help redeem this situation.

The issue must be confronted. The upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh provides an ideal platform from which to address this matter. We support wholeheartedly the request made by the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) that you put freedom of expression on the meeting’s agenda with a view to firmly entrenching this inalienable right in the Commonwealth countries.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director