PublicationsAfghanistanInternews Newsletter on Freedom of Journalism in AfghanistanIssue #2 - September 2004In our continuing attempt to bring to light information about intimidation, harassment and violence against journalists in Afghanistan, here we document four instances which reflect different aspects of the problems faced by journalists in carrying out their professional engagements. In the first newsletter of this series, we had drawn attention to the fact that journalists in this country work under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, most of which go unreported. The reasons for this underreporting are primarily two. One, most journalists have come to view intimidation as a professional hazard, one that cannot be challenged effectively. Two, most are wary of sharing information about these instances since this may jeopardize their safety even further in the absence of any protective mechanism. Keeping this in mind, Internews has been careful to document incidents with sensitivity, working with the victims to arrive at a mutually acceptable narration of events that provides the basic information without compromising their safety. Though this results in the dilution of the impact of the reporting, we believe that security of journalists here is the most important consideration. From the response we have had to the first newsletter, from local journalists as well as international observers, this seems an approach that has been widely welcomed. Journalists who have accessed the first newsletter have seen this as a valuable resource, and also as a common platform that they can use to be more widely informed about their colleagues in the profession. This is all the more important since journalists are still trying to set up a collective body that will represent their common interests. Internews has seen a remarkable increase in the flow of information about such instances with journalists coming forward confidently to share their experiences. Many of those instances could not, unfortunately be shared in this newsletter either because of the lack of corroborative information, incomplete information and in some cases, reluctance of the victim to share this in the public domain. In cases where it was felt the safety of the journalist would be further compromised by this reporting, Internews has also taken the decision not to publicize the incident until a more secure environment is available for the journalist. In our second newsletter we document instances that bring to light four very different kinds of intimidation and harassment that are preventing or obstructing journalists to function effectively. In Kandahar, a trainee journalist faced threats, physical intimidation and obstruction from residents. In Kabul, a well-known and well-connected senior journalist alleged that he was forced out of a job in a government publication. In Ghoriyan, the blatant misuse of a radio station in favor of a local warlord was, unfortunately not even viewed worthy of protest by the journalists in the radio station. The fourth instance of obstruction that we document seeks to widen the ambit of the newsletter to report regularly on the issue of the rights and responsibilities of the media. Though the Media Law has ostensibly recognized the right to information, journalists continue to be denied basic access through subsequent orders passed by individual ministries. The Media Code of Conduct formulated by the Media Commission has asserted the journalists’ right to access to election-related information, but implementation of this principle remains to be seen. This newsletter introduces the subject of the right to information and will continue to report on this aspect in subsequent issues. Kandahar: Pitfalls of Reporting (IWPR)In most parts of the world, reporting on the problems of people in remote areas is something that every journalist finds deeply satisfying, especially because the people being written about are happy to receive the dedicated attention; it’s a win-win situation. A young journalist of Kandahar however found himself detained for trying to do this simple job. Sent out on assignment to Pashmool village, the village of the former Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Hassan, to survey people as part of a workshop being conducted by IWPR (Institute for War and Peace Reporting), this journalist was detained by the locals and accused of being a spy. The survey included questions asking citizens whether they would vote, why or why not and what their most important problems were—for example, security, water, health care and education. Apparently the locals were suspicious of anyone who would come to their village to ask questions and surmised that such activity could only be undertaken by an agent of some vested powers. Some members of the village, who are apparently hostile to the current regime in Kabul, accused this reporter of being an agent of the US as well as the Karzai government. Though he protested that he had gone to the village to document the problems of the people, focusing on the drought in the area and its affect on agriculture, he was detained by the villagers. It was only when one of his family members arrived and intervened that he was allowed to leave the area. Local villagers also warned him never to come back with such questions. Kabul: Government Media Face Equal Pressure: Anis Daily NewspaperWorking for a government owned newspaper might seem like a good idea, free of the usual harassment that journalists of independent media outlets face. However, sometimes this apparently privileged position acts to the contrary, resulting in far greater pressure and demands on the employees of government-owned organizations. In August, Mr. Ahmad Zia Siamak Heravi, the editor of the government-run daily, Anis, resigned citing extreme pressure on his professional independence. According to Heravi, his attempt to turn the newspaper into an independent professional media organization was considered unacceptable with constant efforts to undermine him. Heravi resigned, but being well-connected, has secured a job as a media specialist in the office of Javed Ludin, spokesperson to President Karzai. Such were the limitations imposed on him while working for Anis that Heravi has said he feels much freer in the media wing of the presidential secretariat. Ghoriyan: Misuse of media platformJournalists in Afghanistan who have been struggling for several decades against attempts to intimidate them have almost come to accept intimidation as part and parcel of their profession. This is so much the case that abuse of the media platform is often taken for granted, evoking little protest. This was exemplified by an incident recently in the Internews-supported radio station in Ghoriyan. In the last week of August, in the midst of the armed battle between the forces of former Herat Governor Ismael Khan and local commander Amanullah Khan, the Chairman of a regional RTA station chose to walk into the independent radio station to make his own speech on air. Accompanied by armed soldiers, the Chairman asked the people of the area to stand up against the forces of Amanullah Khan and support Ismael Khan in the “struggle for supremacy.” Given the background of complete political control that existed under the Governorship of Khan, neither the radio station manager, nor any of the other employees chose to prevent or protest against this misuse of the independent platform. Nor did they choose to raise the issue in a subsequent protest. Denial of the Right to InformationAs the structures of state power get strengthened in Afghanistan, a concomitant spin-off has been the gradual but steady increase of restrictions on the right to information. Anecdotal evidence suggests that several ministries have issued specific orders forbidding any of their employees or any person working in any of their departments from talking to the press. The only point of legitimate interaction allowed is either with the official spokesperson or an interview authorized by the office of the Minister. Internews was able to collect anecdotal information about such orders from journalists reporting on the Ministries of Education, Interior, Agriculture and Health. In the case of the Education Ministry, the order has been stretched to its utmost absurdity, with the ministry insisting that no journalist could speak even to school teachers, principals and students unless armed with a specific order from the ministry. The justifications for the protection apparently vary from case to case. In the case of the Health Ministry journalists are not allowed to speak to patients. At the Interior Ministry similar instructions have been issued to police stations (at least in Kabul). Crime reporters are not allowed to meet with and conduct interviews of local police involved in investigating or solving any crime that takes place. They are expected instead to approach the senior police commissioner. Journalists therefore have to approach the given Ministry every time they may want to follow a story and explain the purpose of the interview sought. This automatically rules out the possibility of following up on stories that may be considered negative by the Ministry. With these restrictions, no journalist can hope to build up any sources or to investigate and report on any short-coming or wrongdoing in any part of these ministries. For any queries or information please contact: Note: To maintain the confidentiality and to protect sources it was not possible for Internews to corroborate the incidents by carrying out additional investigations. None of the material herein may be reproduced without permission from Internews.
|
|
|
