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by
Robert
Russell, 3/26/99
Cartoonists
Relief Network News:
Freedom
Forum/NEWSEUM. We'd like to thank Judy Hines and her staff
at the Education Department of the NEWSEUM in Rosslyn, VA for
their support while our computer system was down last year. The
Education Department provided Cartoonists Relief Network with
office space and internet access, as well as phone and fax services
that proved invaluable to our continued operations. We also prepared
a curriculum package of ten matted at-risk cartoons and bios
that the education Department will use in its classes in journalism
with local clubs, schools and social groups.
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Cartoonists in trouble:
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Thanks also to Eric Newton, Program Office
at the NEWSEUM for sponsoring an exhibit put together by the
Cartoonists Relief Network and the Program Office's staff. The
exhibit resulted in checks for $100 being sent out to ten participating
cartoonists, some still very much under legal or extra judicial
threats. The exhibit was sent to all of the Freedom Forum,s world
wide offices. We have an attractive poster from the "Inside
Media exhibit that "Watch List recipients can ask for while
supplies last. As soon as my present supplies of 15 are gone
I will have to charge for them, as I will have to have them reproduced
commercially. My current supply comes to us at the courtesy of
the NEWSEUM.
The exhibit was prominently displayed
on the NEWSEUM's main floor and was beautifully laid out by the
NEWSEUM staff. The exhibit brought attention to editorial cartoonists
around the world who attracted the ire of either governments
or other illegal forces. Anyone who would like an 8x11 reproduction
of the two panel exhibit can write or email to us and we,ll be
happy to send you one. As mentioned above, poster sizes are available
in a very limited supply.
The exhibit was also used as a backdrop
for the Freedom Forum's Hong Kong facility's exhibit called:
"Hong Kong in Caricature: Lampooning the Leadership. A popular
exhibit of Hong Kong,s most dangerous cartoonists over the years.
Cartoonists Relief Network Board Member Larry Feign was a featured
cartoonist.
At this year's "Cartoons and Cocktails"
a charity event sponsored by the Freedom Forum in partnership
with the National Press Club in Washington, Cartoonists Relief
Network auctioned off a cartoon by "Yoonoos our founding
Board member in Sri Lanka. We earned about $250 for the Cartoonists
Relief Network Legal Defense Fund which will go to assist Turkish
Cartoonist Dogan Guzel's legal team. We gratefully thank "Kal
Kalaugher of the Baltimore Sun for doing the auctioneering honors.
Kal has also graciously agreed to be on Cartoonists Relief Network's
Board of Directors. Joel Pett of the Lexington-Herald has also
agreed to be on our Board.
Funding: Cartoonists
Relief Network will soon be entering into an agreement with a
New York based arts agency that will provide us with IRS 501(c)(3)
tax exempt coverage. Later, and as soon as we have the resources,
we will apply for our own tax exempt status. This will allow
us to begin an aggressive funding effort with appropriate foundations
and agencies. We would like to call on editorial cartoonists
all over the world to support the Cartoonists Relief Network
in this with your suggestions, introductions and contacts, especially
individuals and agencies in the journalism trade. There are many
organizations assisting journalists at risk in the world, and
editorial cartoonists are often, but not always, included in
their coverage. But as one officer from one of the most respected
US agencies told us, he has about 60 individuals in about 10
countries in his brief. Even the largest agencies cannot provide
the level of individual attention that Cartoonists Relief Network
will be able to provide for editorial cartoonists. As well, not
all human rights organizations even attempt to support the families
of the journalists they cover. We will. So far as we know, Cartoonists
Relief Network is the only human rights organization in the world
dedicated exclusively to supporting humor and editorial cartoonists
in trouble.
We must thank "Kal Kallaugher,
Mike Mikula, Joel Pett, Chip Beck, and Daryl Cagle for their
continuing advice and support. Daryl and Cartoonists Relief Network
are cooperating on postings of emergency cases of cartoonists
at risk and you should be able to see some soon on www.cagle.com.
Diplomatic Representation: Kal, Mike Mikula and Robert Russell paid a
visit to the Turkish Embassy where we met with Mr. Namik Tan,
the Counselor Officer for Human Rights. We made a strong representation
for Dogan Guzel, so far as we know, the only editorial cartoonist
presently in jail. Russell has also been consulting with the
Canadian Embassy on immigration issues for refugee. Last year
Russell also paid a visit to the Embassy of Mali to make representation
on behalf of a cartoonist who had been publicly threatened by
one of the Ministers of State.
Diplomatic Strategy: Cartoonists Relief Network is actively working
on the cases mentioned in this "Watch List and on about
five others. In all cases contact is established with the cartoonist
or their families or legal representatives. Letters are sent
to appropriate Ministers of State, embassies, and human rights
organizations. In one case we making enquiries about establishing
a case with the Court of Human Rights at the Council of Europe.
In another we are in daily communications with embassies and
human rights organizations trying to facilitate a refugee visa
for a cartoonist in exile. We have met with the Prime Minister
(in exile) of Burma and his fellow Ministers of State making
enquiries about reports of Burmese cartoonists in trouble. Cartoonists
Relief Network regularly attends the Congressional Human Rights
caucuses on countries where cartoonists might be in trouble,
recently attending caucus meetings on Sri Lanka and China.
Invitation: Cartoonists Relief Network
Director, Robert Russell, has been invited to this year's AAEC
annual convention. While there, he will make a presentation about
human rights as they effect editorial cartoonists in the world's
trouble spots. He will also bring examples of the work of at-risk
cartoonists from all over the world.
Source
Agencies:
Committee to Protect Journalists
Reporters sans Frontieres
International Federation of Journalists
International Freedom of Expression Clearing House
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International
World Association of Newspapers
The NEWSEUM
And other human rights organizations that cannot now be mentioned.
Your suggestions
and comments are appreciated. E-mail Robert Russell
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