WAR ON TERRORISM - LOOKING GLASS NEWS | |
Afghanistan: Government seeking to reintroduce press censorship |
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by Szamko Guerilla News Network Entered into the database on Monday, July 03rd, 2006 @ 20:42:21 MST |
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Summary: In a steadily worsening security environment, the Afghan government is now seeking
to impose ‘self’ censorship upon the fledgling media in Kabul. Measures
prohibiting the labelling of Mujahideen leaders as ‘warlords,’ reporting
human rights violations committed by foreign troops and even allowing the Taliban
a voice all represent the weakness of Afghan democracy under occupation. It is also interesting, given the use of the term by Tony Blair, that Hamid
Karzai has defended these odious restrictions as preventing the “glorification
of terrorism,” a phrase that is becoming standard issue excuse for the
suppression of the truth. [Posted By Szamko] _________________________ By Unattributed Karzai government seeks to issue bans and restrictions
on dissent against foreign occupation and government policies Reporters Without Borders voiced dismay today at recent government initiatives
aimed at imposing censorship and self-censorship about the security situation
and the presence of foreign troops. News media editors and executives were summoned
by intelligence officials and given instructions. Then a list of banned subjects
was sent out to editors. “The media obviously have a role to play in promoting peace, but it is
absolutely outrageous that the Afghan authorities should harass the privately-owned
media in this manner and tell them what to say and write,” the press freedom
organisation said. “Criticising the Afghan authorities or the coalition
forces is not the same as condoning terrorism.” Reporters Without Borders continued: “We call on President Hamid Karzai
to have this list of banned subjects officially withdrawn and to make sure the
intelligence services do not interfere in media content again.” The organisation added: “It is not by censoring the press that the Afghan
government will resolve the security problems or put a stop to all the criticism
of the warlords and corruption.” Executives and editors of some 10 Afghan news media, including Kabul Weekly,
Kilid, Sibat and Tolo TV, were summoned by Hassan Fakhri, an official with the
National Security Directorate (NSD) to a meeting at its Kabul headquarters on
12 June. After making a few general remarks about the role of the media, Fakhri
distributed a list of bans and restrictions for the media that was signed by
NSD director Amrullah Saleh. Fakhri said it could not been copied or circulated. The media representatives present refused to accept the directive, describing
it as a violation of the constitution. As a result the NSD sent a new version
– with a few minor changes and no signature – out to the news media
on 18 June. The list of bans and restrictions – a copy of which has been obtained
by Reporters Without Borders – deals above all with security matters and
could be a result of a special meeting which President Karzai held with his
security advisors on 29 May, following anti-foreigner riots in Kabul. Karzai
wanted to tell the media that they should not endanger national interests. The directive begins by ordering the media not to publish “interviews
and reports which are against the presence in Afghanistan of the troops of the
International Coalition forces and the ISAF [the NATO International Security
Assistance Force].” It also tells journalists not to interview or film
Taliban, not to read the “provocative statements of armed organizations,”
not to demoralize the army, not to call the Mujahideen “warlords”
and not to publish “reports and interviews that are against the government’s
foreign policy.” As well as issuing bans, the directive calls on the media to disclose ”
of the real face of terrorists” and to promote the “spirit of resistance
and the bravery of the armed forces in the capital and provinces and particularly
in the country’s border areas.” Reacting to media criticism, President Karzai’s spokesperson yesterday
said the government had no intention of restricting the media and only wanted
to “prevent the glorification of terrorism.” The Association of Independent Afghan Journalists is planning to stage a protest
against the directive on 21 June. Its president, Rahimullah Samander, told Reporters
Without Borders that the constitution and the press law in no way allowed such
censorship. “Afghan journalists have been covering recent events in Kabul
and the rest of the country very well, without sensationalism,” he insisted. _____________________ Read from Looking Glass News |