Media under attack

Journalists say there is liberty of speech but what is the benefit when they face many obstacles and threats.

Independent journalists believe that as well as threats from armed groups and powerful individuals, their professional and human rights are also under attack.

Journalists say there is liberty of speech but what is the benefit when they face many obstacles and threats.

Independent journalists believe that as well as threats from armed groups and powerful individuals, their professional and human rights are also under attack.

Anahir Ferhmand, journalist with Negah TV channel says, “Reporters are defenceless and isolated as they work in tough situations with little salary. Their security is not assured and media managers don’t give them a lot of importance.”

Zafar Shah Royee with Hasht e Sobh (8 AM) believes that lack of occupational safety is one of the problems facing reporters in the field. “Journalists put their life at risk just for the sake of getting a mouthful of food,” he observes.

Royee is critical of media managers who “misbehave” with reporters. “They think they own the life of a journalist for the few thousand Afghanis (paid to them).” In his opinion, “the life of journalists is threatened by all groups including government authorities.”

New bill

The Ministry of Information and Culture has drafted new rules for the safety of journalists. Muzhgan Mustafawi, deputy to publication in the ministry says the new bill specifies “clearly” the methods of contract with the employee, rights, insurance, privileges of journalists in case of death or injury, pension rights, overtime benefits and wages.

The bill, divided in four chapters and 41 articles, was approved and endorsed by the Council of Ministers. More media managements need to enforce it.

Media associations have demanded that the government must enforce the rules.

Fahim Dashti of the Afghanistan Journalists’ National Union says managers had trampled on media rights because the law was opaque.

Contracts were “tyrannical and imposed on media professionals”, Dashti observes. “In case of the death or injury of a journalist, owners did not think they had a responsibility,” he says.

Sidiqullah Tawhidi, chief of NAI, a media support group in Afghanistan, points out employers are responsible when journalists are injured or killed during assignment.

Can we hope to see changes in the situation of journalists at work? Khairullah Rasouli, reporter with Salam Watandar radio says, “If all the media strictly implement the rules regarding contract, the rights of insurance and pension. this (new bill) can be a good document. As yet it is only on paper like the (Afghan) Constitution. We cannot be too optimistic.”

He cites the example of the suicide attack on a Tolo TV bus carrying staffers on Jan 20 in Kabul. Seven people were killed and at least 25 injured. The Taleban claimed responsibility for the attack, the first against a media group.

Rasouli is doubtful if Tolo would be ready to compensate the relatives of the deceased. The bill was introduced before the attack. “I don’t think they (the media) would obey the rules set in the new bill.”

Royee from Hasht e Sobh thinks enforcement of the new rules would help strengthen the media but he is also doubtful if media managers are willing to take on the challenge.

“I don’t think the new bill would be respected by media owners, they don’t like to take on responsibilities.”

Black Wednesday

Independent Afghan media professionals are shaken by the brazen attack on the Tolo TV bus. The Taleban had been saying for months that the TV channel was a “military target” because it had broadcast what the fighters said was exaggerated reports about Taleban fighters committing crimes in Kunduz.

The attack on Tolo has been condemned widely. Amrullah Aman, head of counter terrorism says, “Afghan media is unique. They have antagonised the enemy.”