Media still being gagged in South Asia: SAARC journalists

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) Notwithstanding the tall claims by South Asian governments regarding their commitment to democracy and press freedom, the media from the Region continues to be the target of physical assault, harassment, kidnappings and lives in the shadow of threats to its livelihood and editorial freedom.

Tales enunciating these realties were narrated here by seasoned journalists from South Asian countries participating in a session at the ongoing two-day Conference by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA). The theme of the session was 'Attacks on media in South Asia.' The event was inaugurated yesterday by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today addressed a session at the Conference.

The Regional scene continues to be dominated by violence'physical and sometimes even fatal'with frequent threats to life. Kidnappings, detentions, expulsions, arrests and mental torture are not unknown.

These are more pronounced in countries where democracy has not taken deep roots, which includes Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Maldives.

The spectre which haunts India--now a matured democracy with a modern economy'relates to the ever growing control of Corporate Houses over the media, which not only has changed the content of journalism itself but their prowess to stop advertising in papers which are not obliging acts as a Damocles' sword over the Editors.

The key note speaker at the session was Aruna Roy, Human Rights Activist, and the discussants were one each from the South Asian countries, namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Maldives. The participant from India was Ms Sevanti Ninan, a well known writer on media affairs.

The Conference assumes significance in view of the two-day SAARC Conference in the capital beginning tomorrow.

''Media houses were vandalized and media products robbed, banned and banished. Commercial advertisements and newsprint were used to bully media managements so that they submit to the whims and fancies of those in authority,'' Mr Hussain Naqi, a Pakistani Journalist who is Editor of Media Monitor, said in his report on the status of press freedom in the Region.

Ms Roy narrated the saga of struggle by mass organizations and other civil society groups in getting the Right to Information Bill passed and made a fervent plea to journalists to wage movements in their countries to get similar legislations approved as it was a sure guarantee against arbitrariness and high handedness by those who wield power.

What came out loud and clear was the determination and courage of the scribes in not surrendering the might of their pens before those in power, even though it may cost them their lives.

Mr Naqi eulogized the role played by the community of journalists in the recent popular democratic movement in Nepal, saying the 'most unexpected' victims were media persons, media houses and media products. Violence was resorted to cover up the misdeeds of the corrupt.

The journalists from Pakistan spoke at great length about the pressures that they faced in the recent crisis involving the Chief Justice of that country. Similarly, journalists were kidnapped in the Northwestern province to get support for a political agenda.

In Bangladesh, after the imposition of Emergency media is being given verbal advice on 'Do's and don'ts.' FM Radio in India and Pakistan continues to face restrictions on broadcasting and current affairs programmes. These restrictions are, however, wantonly violated in Pakistan by the militant sectarian and 'jehadi' groups who have instigated armed violence resulting in loss of dozens of human lives. FM stations have also been threatened by different outfits in Pakistan.

Media in Sri Lanka continues to be targeted both by the armed and civil armed forces as well as the militants. The anti-terrorist law has been misused to apprehend and confine an independent women Sinhala journalist accusing her of assisting Tamil militants.

The Army has also prohibited the circulation of independent Tamil media publications.

And in Maldives, the Press that was promised freedom under a proposed new law is still awaiting its promulgation, even though the deadline set for this purpose is over. There is little hope of private media outside the government control being given broadcasting rights.

UNI