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Alan Johnston

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For other people called Alan Johnston, see Alan Johnston (disambiguation).
File:Alan johnston bbc.jpg
Alan Johnston in an undated BBC photo

Alan Graham Johnston (born May 17, 1962) is a journalist working for the BBC. He has been the BBC's correspondent in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Gaza. He went missing in March 2007, prompting fears that he had been kidnapped. On March 26, his captivity became the longest of a foreigner in Gaza in two years, having been missing two weeks. His captivity has led to many protests in the Palestinian territories, as well as the British government meeting a Hamas member for the first time. On 15 April unconfirmed reports claiming that he had been murdered surfaced, later confirmed by Palestinian intelligence sources to be false.

Biography

Johnston was born in Lindi, Tanzania, on May 17, 1962,[1] but is a British citizen,[2] and more precisely, is Scottish.[3] He was educated at Dundee University in Scotland[4], where he graduated with an MA in English and politics. Johnston also has a diploma in Journalism Studies from the University of Wales in Cardiff.[1] Johnston also studied at Dollar Academy in Dollar, Scotland.[5]

Journalism

Johnston joined the BBC in 1991 and has spent eight years as a correspondent for the BBC, including in Tashkent, Uzbekistan as well as Kabul, Afghanistan.[1] He was in Kabul when Afghanistan was still under the control of the Taliban.[4] He was supposed to be the BBC's full-time correspondent in Gaza until April 1, 2007, and was the only foreign reporter with a major Western media organisation to still be based in the city at the time of his kidnap.[1][6][7]

Johnston has covered many major stories in Gaza for the BBC, including Israel's unilateral disengagement plan in 2005, Hamas winning the 2006 legislative elections, the 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict and the Palestinian factional violence of late 2006 to 2007.[4]

Johnston is regarded by the BBC as a respected, experienced journalist,[8] and due to his local knowledge, he was someone other journalists would turn to for information when in Gaza.[7] Johnston's BBC colleague Paul Adams noted: "It is his job to bring us day after day reports of the Palestinian predicament in the Gaza Strip."[1] Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian Information Minister, has described Johnston as a "friend of our people", and said that Johnston "has done a lot for our cause."[9] Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti has also called Johnston a "friend of the Palestinian people".[10]

When not working as a correspondent, Johnston produces reports, one of which, on life after the Taliban, won a Sony Radio Academy Award bronze.[11] Johnston has also worked as programme editor of The World Today and a general reporter in the BBC World Service newsroom.[12]

Kidnapping

On March 12, 2007, Johnston's car was found abandoned on a street, shortly after he left his office to drive home.[1] He had entered Gaza from Jerusalem earlier in the day,[6] where he had been for a dental appointment.[8] A business card belonging to Johnston was found at the scene, identifying him as having been in the car.[13] The BBC was alerted to his disappearance when he did not make a pre-arranged telephone call.[8]

According to Palestinian police, four armed men were spotted near Johnston's car,[14] and Johnston is believed to have been abducted at gunpoint.[2] A state of emergency was declared with checkpoints set up to find Johnston, who was in the final weeks of his posting to Gaza, where he had been stationed for three years.[14]

There were some reports that negotiations had begun to try to secure Johnston's release, although the BBC strenuously emphasised that it could not independently verify reports that Johnston had been kidnapped.[15] A week after his disappearance, the BBC admitted that it seemed certain now that he had been kidnapped.[16]

On March 21, Israeli sources reported that Johnston may have been taken by the same groups that captured Gilad Shalit in June 2006. However, this was strongly denied by both the Popular Resistance Committees and the Palestinian Army of Islam.[17]

March 26 marked the fact that his kidnapping was now the longest-ever of a foreigner in Gaza since abductions began happening in the Gaza Strip, which led to renewed calls for his release.[18][19]

In the midst of his third week in captivity, news agencies began reporting on speculation that Johnston had been kidnapped by a powerful Gaza family with criminal connections, and which was willing to switch support to the other faction in the Palestinian Territories should one displease them.[20][21][22] It then emerged that the family might be holding Johnston as a bargaining chip who would be released in return for ten Hamas gunmen who killed members of the family.[23]

On the day marking the fourth week of his disappearance, a London-based Arab newspaper, Al-Hayat, reported that Gaza authorities were looking into the possibility that Johnston might have staged his own disappearance after hearing that he was soon to be fired.[24] At first, the BBC refused to comment on the report,[25] before issuing a statement, calling on press not to run the article in question "given that there is absolutely no truth to it".[26], adding that "there is no truth in any suggestion that Alan Johnston may have staged his own kidnap, nor that the BBC was about to dismiss him."[26]

Reactions, appeals and protests

The Palestinian government condemned the kidnapping, and vowed to "bring the criminals to justice",[6] calling the abduction "despicable".[2] The Foreign Press Association issued an appeal for Johnston's release, while both Hamas and Fatah also called for Johnston to be freed.[14] Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also voiced their concern at the apparent abduction, blaming it on the "impunity" that no-one involved with prior kidnappings had been convicted that "[encouraged]" his kidnappers to act.[27]

On March 15, the BBC's Middle East bureau chief Simon Wilson issued a statement in Gaza thanking Ismail Haniya, Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian government for trying to help resolve the situation. He also issued a new plea for information on Johnston's whereabouts.[15] In London, the Muslim Council of Britain also put forward an appeal for the release of Johnston, calling on Abbas and Haniya to do their utmost to secure Johnston's freedom,[28] while over 20 Palestinian journalists held a rally on March 17 outside parliament in Gaza in support of Johnston. The rally was also attended by Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti and Wilson.[29] Barghouti said: "We are opposed to the kidnapping of foreign journalists who serve the Palestinian cause."[30]

A week after Johnston went missing, his father made a televised appeal for his release. Speaking from Argyll, Graham Johnston called on his son's abductors to "let my son go, now, today".[16] Wilson said that the fact that there had been no information on Johnston for over a week had been "disappointing", adding that efforts made to find Johnston would have to be redoubled. He also noted that the BBC's only request was to have "some firm information" on Johnston.[31] Deputy Director General of the BBC Mark Byford also called for people with influence to secure Johnston's release,[16] while BBC staff in London held a rally in support of Johnston.[32][33]

RSF invited Arabic-language news media and bloggers to post banners on their websites that called for Johnston to be freed. RSF also noted that the "silence" surrounding Johnston's abduction was "particularly worrying".[34]

The Palestinian Journalists Union in Gaza observed a 24-hour strike on March 20 to protest against Johnston's abduction, and threatened to "escalate" its protests until Johnston was released.[35] Foreign and local journalists in Ramallah, West Bank, had held a sit-in a day earlier, at which Barghouti again condemned the kidnapping.[36]

The BBC said that it had received "assurances" about the well-being of Johnston, but repeated that it had "no firm knowledge" of his condition. It also thanked journalists who demonstrated in a show of support both in the Middle East and back in the UK.[37]

European Union foreign policy representative Javier Solana told the BBC on March 20 that the EU was doing all it could to try to establish Johnston's whereabouts. Solana added that the EU had been involved since the day of the kidnapping.[38] British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett told Parliament that London was also doing everything it could, and had brought the issue up with Mahmoud Abbas,[39] saying that Abbas had given her assurances that finding Johnston was "very much" a goal of the Palestinian authorities.[40] Journalists also protested in front of Abbas's office to demand that more be done to deal with the situation.[41]

Protests continued on March 22, demanding more protection of journalists and more be done to prevent violation of press freedoms. Ahmed Abdel Rahman, advisor to Abbas for the PLO, told protesting journalists in Ramallah that there were "indications of an imminent release".[42] Twelve days into Johnston's abduction, the Bishop of Lichfield Jonathan Gledhill asked churchgoers to pray for Johnston's release, saying that people were grateful for "brave journalists" like Johnston.[43]

Over 100 people held a rally for Johnston's release thirteen days into his captivity. Simon Wilson again urged those with influence to "work tirelessly" to obtain Johnston's freedom.[44] On the day marking the second week since Johnston went missing, Gaza reporters held another strike in solidarity with Johnston.[44][45] The beginning of Johnston's third week in captivity also lead RSF to press the Arab League to issue a new appeal for Johnston's release at an upcoming summit.[19]

In response to the RSF appeal, at the end of the two-day summit Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal condemned the kidnapping, adding that he hoped the kidnappers would soon release Johnston, saying that this was "certainly ... not something that anybody, anybody would approve of" and that Johnston was just "doing his job".[46]

Amnesty International[47] and Johnston's former school Cardiff University[48] also both issued calls for Johnston's release. The deputy director of the university's journalism centre noted that the kidnapping "deprived Palestine of an objective reporter relaying its news to the West."[48]

A new three-day strike was planned by journalists in the lead-up to the fourth week of Johnston's kidnapping.[23][49] The strike included a ban on covering all government activities and the Palestinian Authority in general.[50] Simultaneous demonstrations and protests were also planned for April 2 in both Gaza and Ramallah.[49] On the day itself, over three hundred journalists held a demonstration in Gaza with their mouths tied and gagged.[51] They then marched to the city's government area. Another such protest was held in Ramallah in front of Abbas' office.[52]

The three-day strike meant that a meeting between United States Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Abbas was boycotted by the local media.[53] That same day, UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura added his voice to those calling for Johnston's release. He noted that the situation was "increasingly disturbing", and asked authorities to "do their utmost to obtain his release as quickly as possible".[54]

On April 4, the protesting journalists forced the cancellation of a rare meeting of Parliament in Gaza after the entrance to the Parliament building was blocked by the protesters. Some of the lawmakers then stood and listened to the protest.[55] The next day, Britain's Consul-General in Jerusalem Richard Makepeace met with Prime Minister Haniya, breaking a ban by the European Union on contacts with Hamas. British diplomats stressed that the meeting was only to discuss Johnston's kidnapping and did not "represent a change of policy".[56] Makepeace's office emphasised that the meeting was "strictly for humanitarian reasons", while Reuters quoted some diplomats as saying that it was generally agreed that the boycott of Hamas could be relaxed in emergencies like kidnappings.[57]

Palestinian children took part in a demonstration on April 6 to call for Johnston's release. The children held banners and carried his picture when demonstrating in the streets. Johnston was also spoken of at Friday prayers.[58] Fresh protests were held in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin and Gaza City the next day by Palestinian journalists, who held banners condemning Johnston's abduction.[59] The Palestinian Cabinet held a special meeting the next day to discuss Johnston's case, and directed that "all necessary measures" should be taken to secure Johnston's freedom.[60]

On Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, Archbishop of York John Sentamu included Johnston in his Easter prayers, calling him a "symbol of ensuring the freedom of the press is not violated".[60] It was reported the same day that about one thousand British journalists would send protest emails to Abbas over the continued abduction of Johnston.[61]

Four weeks after Johnston's disappearance, his BBC colleagues once again got together in London to show support for the missing reporter. The BBC's head of news-gathering, Fran Unsworth, commented that Johnston was "incarcerated", and voiced concerns about Johnston's mental state and general health, adding that "the longer it goes on the more concerned that we become".[62] Jordanian journalists also urged the release of Johnston that same week, calling his abduction "a violation of the freedom of press", as well as claiming that it "extends a service to the Israeli occupation forces which commit the ugliest crimes against the Palestinian people." The Jordan Press Association urged the Palestinian authorities to do all it could to ensure his release, and to "conduct an investigation" on those who "committed this unjustifiable act."[63]

The Palestinian government apologised again on April 10 that Johnston was still missing. Mustafa Barghouti repeated that the government was making every effort to find Johnston, and said that the government was "deeply sorry", adding that the kidnapping was "detrimental to our national cause."[9]

On April 12, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a call for Johnston's release, stating that his kidnappers "should release him unconditionally and immediately." The Secretary-General extended his sympathies to Johnston's family and promised to do all in his power to secure Johnston's release.[64]

April 16 marked the fifth week since Johnston's disappearance. Despite unconfirmed claims of his execution, new vigils and protests were held for Johnston. BBC staff held its weekly vigils for Johnston, led by Mark Thompson, who confirmed that the BBC was still looking for clarification about Johnston's well-being. Thompson also praised the reporter's family.[65] Journalists also held protests in Beirut, Lebanon, and in Brussels, Belgium outside the European Commission building.[65]

A new protest was held by Palestinian journalists outside the Gaza Parliament on April 17. However, armed guards outside the building turned violent against the protesters, hitting them with their rifles, leading one journalist to comment that "we came peacefully, but we are being assaulted now."[66] Three journalists were injured. RSF condemned the violence, saying that it was "outraged by this violence against journalists who had gone to express their fears and emotion about Johnston's fate."[67]

On April 18, Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader in prison in Israel, "from my cell, and in the name of 10,000 prisoners in the occupation jails", called on Johnston's kidnappers to free the journalist.[10] Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, announced that he would visit Gaza to deliver a letter to the Palestinian Authority, signed by 200 European MPs, which asked the PA to "make every effort" to ensure Johnston was freed. The 200 MEPs also called on the European Union to take stronger action.[68]

The Guardian advertisement

To mark the twenty-first day of Johnston's kidnapping, three hundred British media personalities signed an advertisement, organised by the BBC, that was published in The Guardian. The advertisement states that the signatories "demand the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston".[69] The advertisement "[asks] again that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts, to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed."[70]

It was signed by most editors of British national newspapers, including Alan Rusbridger, Robert Thomson, John Witherow, Patience Wheatcroft, Will Lewis, Paul Dacre and Richard Wallace.[69] Other signatories included David Dimbleby, Sir David Frost, Jon Snow and Christiane Amanpour.[51] al-Jazeera's Wadah Khanfar also signed the appeal.[51]

That same day, the BBC news website created an online version of the petition to allow people from across the world to sign it. The petition closed a few days later on April 5.[71] The petition was later re-opened on April 12, a full month after Johnston's kidnapping.[72]

To date, 40,000 people have signed the online petition.[73]

Alan Johnston Day of Action

File:Alanonemonth.png
Screencap of the end of Alan Johnston One Month special programming

On April 12, a full month after Johnston was last seen, the BBC held an Alan Johnston Day of Action with events in London, Scotland and the Palestinian Territories to mark the day. Director-General of the BBC Mark Thompson gave a news conference in Ramallah, and made another appeal for Johnston's release. He said that Johnston "had formed many strong friendships", and was "held in great affection and regard by those who know him." He repeated Fran Unsworth's comments made days earlier, saying that the BBC was "increasingly concerned about the physical and mental toll" of Johnston's "incarceration".[74] Thompson also said that "Alan had been looking forward to returning to his staff post in London in the BBC World Service newsroom" because "Gaza [had] become an increasingly difficult and chaotic place for journalists to operate in safely", seemingly dispelling rumours that he had staged his own kidnapping because he did not want to be transferred. He also thanked the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate for "highlighting Alan's suffering", and the people of Gaza.[74]

Johnston's father Graham once again issued a new plea to the kidnappers to free his son. In an open letter, the senior Johnston addressed his son's kidnappers, telling them to "please think about what this is doing to my family." Again, he asked the kidnappers to "please let my son go now, today."[75] Addressing his son, he said that the family "wanted you to know how distressed and sorry we all are that you were taken," adding that despite warnings from his son that being kidnapped was a possibility, "when it came, it was still a considerable shock." He ended the open letter by saying that "all our heartfelt warmest fondest love is sent to you from all your family and in the fervent hope that you will be released unharmed."[75]

BBC World, BBC News 24, Al Jazeera English and Sky News agreed to simulcast a special programme dedicated to bringing the plight of Johnston to people. The thirty-minute broadcast, fronted by Jeremy Bowen, contained reports from Al Jazeera, Sky and CNN International. Bowen began by noting that "about the only good thing to come out of the last month is the way Alan's colleagues, especially here in the occupied Palestinian territories, have rallied around him." It was the first such effort made jointly by global news networks.[64]

Reporters Without Borders also organised a rally at Trafalgar Square in central London in support of the missing journalist. The rally was attended by Johnston's parents. A rally was also held in Gaza, calling on the Palestinian government to do more. In a statement, RSF stated that it was "unacceptable that a journalist should be used as a bargaining chip in an abduction", and asked "What are the authorities waiting for to obtain his release?"[76]

Claims of execution

On April 15, one day before the fifth week since his disappearance, a previously-unknown militant Palestinian group claiming to be linked to al-Qaeda claimed that it had executed Johnston. The group vowed to release a video of the execution, further claiming in a statement that they "were surprised by the position of the Palestinian Authority, which attempted to hide the case as much as it could and to present the case in an untruthful manner, leading us unfortunately to kill the journalist".[77]

The BBC and the Foreign Office immediately confirmed to Agence France-Presse that they were both "urgently" investigating the reports,[78] and the BBC added that it was "deeply concerned about what it is hearing", highlighting the growing concern for the safety of Alan Johnston.[79] However, the BBC also emphasised that the claims were "rumour with no independent verification".[80] A spokesman for 10 Downing Street said that the British government was "working closely with the Palestinian Authority" and "urgently seeking information from them".[65]

The Palestinian Interior Ministry raised doubts about the claims,[81] and said that they believed that Johnston was still being held by someone else, and this declaration was an attempt to pressure the Palestinian government.[82] The claims also led to concern among Palestinian journalists that Johnston may have been injured in the kidnapping, and the kidnappers were now looking for reasons to kill the reporter.[82]

Johnston's parents urged the kidnappers to "end [their] ordeal", describing the incident as a "desperately worrying time".[83][84] Speculation then emerged that Johnston's kidnappers may have sold the captive on to a third party.[85] Reporters Without Borders also expressed "deep concern" about Johnston's fate, saying that the reports of his death "deeply [disturbing]" but also advised caution "as long as there is no evidence confirming that Johnston has been murdered."[86]

However, a ransom demand was issued on April 17, seemingly conflicting the claims that Johnston had been killed. Asharq Alawsat reported that Johnston's kidnappers wanted $5 million for his release.[66] On April 19, President of the Palestinian Authority told reporters his intelligence services had confirmed that the journalist was still alive, which both the reporter's family and the BBC described as "good news". However, both called for "firm evidence of Alan's well-being".[87]

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  61. ^ "1,000 British Journalists to Downpour President's Inbox with Protests against Johnston's Abduction". International Press Center (PNA State Information Service). 2007-04-08. Retrieved 2007-04-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  62. ^ Staff writer (2007-04-09). "BBC's man missing for four weeks". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ "Jordan journalists: Free BBC reporter". Press TV. 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2007-04-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  64. ^ a b Staff writer (2007-04-12). "UN chief urges release of BBC man". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ a b c Staff writer (2007-04-16). "BBC man's 'killing' not verified". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  66. ^ a b Staff and Associated Press (2007-04-17). "Reporter's captors want $5m. ransom". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2007-04-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  67. ^ "Journalists injured during Gaza demonstration in support of kidnapped British journalist" (Press release). Reporters Without Borders. 2007-04-17. Retrieved 2007-04-18. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  68. ^ Staff writer (2007-04-19). "New calls for reporter's release". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  69. ^ a b Mark Sweney (2007-04-02). "Newspaper ad demands Alan Johnston's release". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-04-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  70. ^ "Advertisement calling for Alan Johnston's release" (PDF). Guardian Unlimited. 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2007-04-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ Staff writer (2007-04-05). "BBC users urge reporter's release". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  72. ^ "Alan Johnston petition". BBC News. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  73. ^ Staff writer (2007-04-13). "Petition urges BBC man's release". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  74. ^ a b Mark Thompson (2007-04-12). "BBC director general's statement". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  75. ^ a b "Text: Family's letter to Alan Johnston". BBC News. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  76. ^ "Rally in London in support of BBC correspondent as he begins second month in captivity in Gaza" (Press release). Reporters Without Borders. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-13. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  77. ^ "'We killed BBC reporter', Palestinian group says". Ynetnews. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  78. ^ AFP (2007-04-15). "BBC, UK probe report, Gaza reporter 'executed'". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  79. ^ Staff writer (2007-04-15). "BBC's concern at Gaza man's fate". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  80. ^ "BBC investigates Johnston claims". ITN. 2007-04-16. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  81. ^ Staff (2007-04-15). "Group claims it executed BBC reporter Johnston". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ a b Avi Issacharoff (2007-04-16). "PA sources discredit group's claim that it killed BBC reporter". Haaretz. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  83. ^ Press Association (2007-04-16). "Johnston 'death' appeal by parents". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ Matt Dickinson and Sam Marsden (Press Association) (2007-04-16). "'End our ordeal' plead kidnapped journalist's parents". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ Tim Butcher (2007-04-16). "BBC man's parents issue appeal amid rumours of his killing". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ "Deep concern about BBC correspondent's fate after group claims it killed him" (Press release). Reporters Without Borders. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  87. ^ "Missing BBC correspondent 'alive'". 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2007-04-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

See also

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