Founder Derek Ingram and CJA leaders demand the resotoration of CMDF CJA 8th Conference Communiqure released

Kuching (Malaysia) October18: The Commonwealth Journalists
Association(CJA) has deplored the lack of funding committment on the
part of Commonwealth countries that has led to to the effective
suspension of the Commonwealth Media Development Fund.set up by Heads
of Governments to enhance Commonwealth-wide journalistic
excellence.Founder of CJA Derek Ingram,President Hassan Shahriar,and
vice president Chris Cobb while addressing a joint press confernce
after the conclusion of five days long Commonwealth Journalists
Association(CJA)Eighth Conference , News Targets for Today,a better
environment and a better democracy here in Kuching Malaysia read the
communique and responded the queries of mediamen.They stated that by
neglecting the CMDF and ignoring their committment,Commonwealth
leaders were obstructing the the CJA and other organisations in their
efforts to achieve the highest possible standards of journalism in the
modern Commonwealth.CJA leaders termed it unacceptable and stated that
it is more ironic,since in recent years Commonwealth Governments have
repeatedly emphasised in CHOGM declarations and communiques their
support for freedom of expression.They urged all Heads of Commonwealth
Governments to renew their committment to the CMDF at once and asked
the Secretary General to persuade the many governments which have
never contributed and those which have reduced or stopped their
participation to think again.
Founder of CJA Derek Ingram,President Hassan Shariar and Vice
President Chris Cobb vowed to continue their struggle in promoting the
freedom of expression in Commonwealth 53 countries and told that CJA
has documented evidence of journalists in some countries being abused
by despots masquerading as politicians.They determined to respond to
every act of abuse reported to us and would use the vast multi-nation
resources of CJA to ensure maximum publicity when journalists were
arrested ,tortured or even killed in their pursuit of truth.The
Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) also announced to encourage
increased and improved coverage of climate change in news media
throughout the Commonwealth.
CJA Communique revealed that by 2012 it is estimated that fully 17.5
percent of present by Bangladesh would have been inundated as a result
of the rising sea level.Bangladesh is an extreme case but many
Commonwealth Countries were similarly at risk,it concluded.Earlier
Secretary General Pakistan Press Foundation(PPF)Karachi ,Owais Aslam
Ali,Abbas Raza(Newsgagency PPI)Ehsan Ahmed Sehar President Rural Media
Network Pakistan(RMNP),S.M,Fazal President CJA Pakistan Chapter and
Editor Daily News Karachi,Ms Fauzia Shaheen Editor Daily Dastak
Karachi and President Women Media Centre and Ms Faryal Najeeb Business
Reporter The News Karachi attended the CJA general body meeting
inwhich Hassan Shahriar(Bangladesh)was unanimously reelected President
CJA for second term,Similarly four vice presidents,Florence
Yii,(Sarawak),Doyin Mahmoud(Nigeria)Martin Mulligan(UK) and Chris
Cobb(Canada) were also chosen unopposed.

Kuching(Malaysia)CJA Founder Derek Ingram,Vice President Chris Cobb and President Hassan Shahriar,CEO AZAM Datu Aloysisus Dris are addressing joint press conference while Vice Presidents Martin Mulligan and Ms Florence Yii are also sitting with them.