Press Freedom in
the Balance in South
Asia
IFJ Releases Sixth Annual Report
The sixth annual South Asia press freedom report, In the Balance: Press Freedom in South Asia 2007-2008, produced
by the International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) for the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) and
released today ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, highlights the serious
challenges that continue to confront the media in a region that is home to more
than one-fifth of humanity.
The challenges range from political
coercion and violence by State and non-State actors to commercial compulsions
and advertiser pressure. All these factors can have a chilling effect on good
journalistic practices, and impinge on the public’s right to independent and
critical information.
“The In the Balance report highlights that many journalists and media workers continue to confront extreme
dangers in the conduct of their work and many are restricted – often violently –
in reporting in the interests of the public good and the accountability of
power-holders,“ said IFJ Asia-Pacific
Director Jacqueline Park.
The report notes that when
governments do not act decisively against a culture of impunity for attacks
against the media, journalists and media workers are often compelled to adopt a
play-safe attitude. Even where there is no overt restraint on the right to free
speech, a hostile environment can compel the media to engage in self-censorship
rather than risk retribution.
In most countries in the region, the
report adds, the regulatory environment remains ill-defined, especially for the
rapidly growing electronic media. In several countries, rival political parties
and other civil society actors observe few accepted standards regarding the
right to free speech.
The year from May 2007 to April 2008
was one of delicate political transition in several countries. Afghanistan struggled with the problems of reconstruction, and its institutions of law and
governance are still nascent. The Afghan media community campaigned successfully
to inscribe strong clauses on the right to free speech in the Constitution. But
getting State and civil society actors to honour these guarantees is a
challenge, as typified by the death sentence passed on Sayed Parvez Kambakhsh, a
young journalist, in January this year.
Nepal and
Pakistan held firm to the course of democratisation. The media community in both
countries played a significant role in the relative success with which political
change was achieved. Journalists’ organisations are utilising the transition
period in both countries to argue for effective legal safeguards against the
attacks on press freedom that have occurred in the recent
past.
Nepali journalists succeeded in
ensuring that a right to information law was enacted. They have also secured
significant amendments to the Working Journalists’ Act. But implementation
remains a challenge.
Likewise for Pakistan, where the legal framework
protecting journalists’ rights to fair wages and working conditions has for long
existed, implementation remains to be addressed.
The media in Bangladesh has been curbed
under the “emergency” regime. Efforts to report accurately on matters of public
importance, involving the student community and the farm sector, have drawn
official expressions of displeasure. Yet the media has succeeded in making its
voice heard. Its critical attitude is one factor impelling the regime to deliver
on promises to create a more secure environment for democracy. A draft law on
the right to information was introduced recently and a community radio policy
has been unveiled. Although far from ideal in their conception, these drafts
provide a reasonably sound basis for public debate.
The downward slide in Sri
Lanka accelerated, and the media in
that country continues to be a casualty of unrelenting war. The relationship
between the State, civil society and the media has deteriorated rapidly.
Weakening democratic commitments on the part of the authorities have encouraged
an environment of impunity for corruption and human rights violations. Senior
political figures and government officials have publicly questioned the
patriotism of independent and critical-minded journalists. Restrictions on
reporting from areas of conflict leave most of the public unaware of the means
used to pursue a war being fought ostensibly for their
security.
India continued
to reflect diverse trends in its internal media dynamics. Regions such as the
north-eastern states, Jammu and
Kashmir and the central Indian plateau and plains,
continued to suffer internal strife. The media in these parts was often caught
between the demands of rival insurgent groups and State security agencies. In
overall terms, the media registered a growth rate in excess of the rest of the
economy. Yet there are concerns about media concentration. What appears to be a
diversity of media sources may not really be so.
Serious ethical breaches by some
broadcast and print organisations in India prompted a demand from
governmental and judicial authorities for greater oversight of the media.
India’s media industry is influential
enough to withstand any challenge to its autonomy, but its credibility could be
a casualty amid perceptions that it is motivated solely by
profit.
“Despite the problems confronting
the region, there is room for optimism,” said Ms Park. “However, press freedom
cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires a united front among journalists
and their organisations, media owners, political power-holders, community
leaders and ordinary people. If we work together, press freedom can indeed be
achieved and contribute to the consolidation of free, stable and secure
societies across all of South
Asia.”
In the Balance: Press Freedom in South Asia presents trends in detail for each country,
and lists the records prepared by IFJ affiliates and partners of direct attacks
on journalists and media workers, noting media workers killed and incidents of
physical harm and intimidation, and abductions and detentions.
For country media
inquiries, contact:
Afghanistan
Rahimullah
Samander
President, Afghan Independent
Journalists’ Association, Kabul
m) +93 (799)
300-004
b) +93 (700) 214-748 / + 93 (700)
649-635 / +93 (75) 200-162-3
Bangladesh,
India, Nepal
Sukumar
Muralidharan
South Asia Program Manager,
International Federation of
Journalists, New
Delhi
m) +91-981-051-8009
b) +91-124-405-6719
Pakistan
Mazhar
Abbas
Secretary General, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Islamabad
m) +92 (300)
8294604
Sri
Lanka
Sunanda
Deshapriya
Convenor, Free Media Movement,
Colombo
m)
+94-077-731-2457
b) +
94-11-237-5239
For further
information, contact:
Anna
Noonan
Project Coordinator, IFJ Asia-Pacific
b) +61 (2)
9333-0919
The
IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120
countries