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Calcutta News.Net Wednesday 2nd May, 2012 (IANS)

Violence and censorship against mediapersons are a "threat" to democracy and also constrains their ability to operate freely, an international body of journalists said Wednesday.

The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) also condemned state repression against media in countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"Without a free press and freedom of expression, governments can impose bad policy and abuse power with impunity," said Rita Payne, president of CJA, underlining the consensus at a meet on 'Threats to Democracy'.

Violence and censorship remains an everyday threat for many journalists and such constraints their ability to operate, the CJA said in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day May 3.

"The CJA unanimously condemns instances of state repression against media reported out of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and some African member states of the Commonwealth," Payne said.

"With some Commonwealth countries, including India and Pakistan resisting a draft UN Action Plan on safety of journalists, the CJA warned that democracy itself is under threat due to constraints on the ability of journalists to operate," she added.

Putting action to words, the CJA has endorsed the Table Mountain Declaration, aimed at abolishing criminal defamation and promoting a free press in Africa.

In 2011, 179 journalists were imprisoned worldwide, up from 145 the previous year while another 67 were killed last year; 17 more so far this year. They were murdered, killed on dangerous assignments or died in crossfire, Payne said.

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'Censorship on journalists a threat to democracy'