Reporters Without Borders has interviewed Maqbool Sahil, a journalist based in Srinagar, the summer capital of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, who was detained for 41 months without trial. Now the editor of the Urdu-language weekly Pukaar, Sahil has spent 19 years covering the conflict in Kashmir, in which thousands have died since 1989.
Arrested in 2004 after covering the rape of an Australian tourist for Chattan, the newspaper he then worked for, he was beaten and tortured during two weeks of interrogation and accused of spying for a Pakistani network. He was nonetheless never tried although Indian law says every detainee must be indicted before a court within 60 days. He decided to resume working as journalist following his release on 9 January 2008.
Sahil wrote seven books while in detention. His prison diary, “Shabistan-e-wajood,” was acclaimed by Reporters Without Borders last year.
Reporters Without Borders: Why were you arrested?
Maqbool Sahil: I was detained solely because of my work as a journalist for the weekly Chattan, covering crime and doing investigative reporting. A few days before my arrest, I covered the story of an Australian woman visiting Kashmir who said she was raped by the owner of the houseboat she had been staying on. Almost all the newspapers covered the case but I dug up facts that contradicted the Australian woman’s account and I wrote about this for the weekly.
Read the full interview: http://en.rsf.org/india-kashmiri-journalist-was-held-for-29-04-2010,37224.html
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
MUFP protests attack on journalists in Kalinga Nagar
Media persons of Bhubaneswar on Wednesday staged a protest against the attack on journalists in Kalinganagar in Jajpur district on March 4.Coming under the banner of Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP), the journalists hailing from different newspapers and television channels observed the silent protest for one hour under the Freedom Tree near the main entrance gate of Jayadev Bhavan.
The journalists displayed banners, posters and cartoons depicting the state government’s undue concern for corporate houses and the ruling party's scant respect for press freedom.
It was decided at the protest meeting that a team of journalists from the Capital city would visit Kalinga Nagar defying the police ban on April 8.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
MUFP CONDEMNS ATTACK ON MEDIA PERSONS
A considerable number of members of Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP) representing the print, electronic (TV) and Web media met in an emergency meeting at Bhubaneswar on Tuesday (05.04.2010) afternoon and elaborately discussed about the increasing attack on the media by the police, anti-socials and the corporate-government nexus.
Despite repeated demands before the Chief Minister to put an end to the atrocities on the media and allow them to operate freely for the best interest of the State and the people and to uphold human right as well as freedom of the media, the Chief Minister and his Government have so far not taken any action against the erring officials, politicians and the corporate goons who are threatening the media freedom in very many ways. The latest victims are Mr. Amulya Kumar Pati of Indian Express and many other scribes in Kalinga Nagar and Mr Prafulla Dash of Naxatra TV in Sambalpur.
The meeting resolved to invite all the media persons of Bhubaneswar and elsewhere to assemble under the Freedom Tree, in front of Soochana Bhavan on Wednesday (7th April, 2010) at 4 p.m. from where they would go on a silent protest march to the State Assembly covering their mouths with black ribbons to silently protest for one hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. against growing threat on media and demanding exemplary action against the offenders.
It also demanded that all the accused persons named by Mr. Pati in his F.I.R. should be arrested forthwith despite of their high political and corporate connections and be prosecuted.
Since media persons were allowed to freely cover the war, riot and other critical events for the interest of the State/nation and the people to feed them with correct information, the State Government should not impose any restrictions on their movement to any area in the State to cover corporate conflict.
Despite repeated demands before the Chief Minister to put an end to the atrocities on the media and allow them to operate freely for the best interest of the State and the people and to uphold human right as well as freedom of the media, the Chief Minister and his Government have so far not taken any action against the erring officials, politicians and the corporate goons who are threatening the media freedom in very many ways. The latest victims are Mr. Amulya Kumar Pati of Indian Express and many other scribes in Kalinga Nagar and Mr Prafulla Dash of Naxatra TV in Sambalpur.
The meeting resolved to invite all the media persons of Bhubaneswar and elsewhere to assemble under the Freedom Tree, in front of Soochana Bhavan on Wednesday (7th April, 2010) at 4 p.m. from where they would go on a silent protest march to the State Assembly covering their mouths with black ribbons to silently protest for one hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. against growing threat on media and demanding exemplary action against the offenders.
It also demanded that all the accused persons named by Mr. Pati in his F.I.R. should be arrested forthwith despite of their high political and corporate connections and be prosecuted.
Since media persons were allowed to freely cover the war, riot and other critical events for the interest of the State/nation and the people to feed them with correct information, the State Government should not impose any restrictions on their movement to any area in the State to cover corporate conflict.
The MUFP also resolved to send a delegation of journalists to Kalinga Nagar on Thursday, 7th April, 2010 to visit the Gobarghati and other villages where people are living in panic because of the terror let loose by the corporate-government nexus. The team would meet the affected people and also injured scribes including Mr. Pati and prepare a report which will be sent to various national and international media bodies as well as human right organisations.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
MUFP CONDEMNS POLICE RAID ON HOUSE OF JOURNALIST AND WRITER DANDAPANI MOHAPATRA
Bhubaneswar, March 15, 2010: A large number of members of MUFP family who met under the "Freedom Tree" here on Monday, unanimously condemned the unwarranted raid in the house of journalist and writer Mr. Dandapani Mohapatra at Chungudikhol in Ganjam district on March, 11, without any search warrant, while Mohapatra was away from home.
Mohapatra is also the General Secretary of Dakhina Odisha Sahitya Sammilani since over past 25 years, and is known for his free thinking and raising voice against corruption and nepotism in the society and administration through his writings.
Mohapatra, who was present at the MUFP meeting narrated how five van loads of police belonging to five police stations, reached his home and virtually terrorised his family members and broke open all the boxes and packets containing books, newspapers and personal documents. They seized some old copies of "Ghadaghadi" magazine (now defunct) and some other magazines, which he had collected and preserved in his personal library. Then the police forced his only son Gautam Buddha Mohapatra to sign on some plain papers . The local Sarpanch was also asked to sign on some plain papers.
During the raid one police officer said that Mohapatra's house was raided because of his links with Naxal leaders.
While returning after conducting the raids for around five hours, the S.D.P.O. Chhatrapur, who was leading the police team, asked Mohapatra's son to ensure that his father should meet him at Chhatrapur immediately failing which he would have to face serious consequences.
The members of the MUFP felt that this was a deliberate attempt by the police to harass and terrorise the media persons and writers with an intention to shield free flow of news and information, which is a very dangerous phenomenon.
Mohapatra is also the General Secretary of Dakhina Odisha Sahitya Sammilani since over past 25 years, and is known for his free thinking and raising voice against corruption and nepotism in the society and administration through his writings.
Mohapatra, who was present at the MUFP meeting narrated how five van loads of police belonging to five police stations, reached his home and virtually terrorised his family members and broke open all the boxes and packets containing books, newspapers and personal documents. They seized some old copies of "Ghadaghadi" magazine (now defunct) and some other magazines, which he had collected and preserved in his personal library. Then the police forced his only son Gautam Buddha Mohapatra to sign on some plain papers . The local Sarpanch was also asked to sign on some plain papers.
During the raid one police officer said that Mohapatra's house was raided because of his links with Naxal leaders.
While returning after conducting the raids for around five hours, the S.D.P.O. Chhatrapur, who was leading the police team, asked Mohapatra's son to ensure that his father should meet him at Chhatrapur immediately failing which he would have to face serious consequences.
The members of the MUFP felt that this was a deliberate attempt by the police to harass and terrorise the media persons and writers with an intention to shield free flow of news and information, which is a very dangerous phenomenon.
While condemning the police action, the MUFP demanded that the Government should use caution while dealing with media persons and writers and should not harass them physically and mentally in such manner, unless they have enough of evidence against any one. Government should try to realise from the case relating to arrest of Mohana based journalist Laxman Chaudhury under false and baseless allegations about his "Naxal link" for exposing misdeeds of the local police, and subsequently the Inspector-in-Charge Mohana police station has been caught red-handed and arrested by the vigilance sleuths for taking bribe from an illegal ganja trader.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
MUFP condoles sad demise of Aaj Tak journalist
Bhubaneswar, March 06, 2010: The presidium of Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP) deeply condoles the untimely sad demise of Aaj Tak TV channel's camera person Mukesh Kumar in a road accident on Saturday afternoon. Mukesh (35) is survived by his wife and a six month old son.The accident took place near Pipili while Mukesh was returning from Puri along with Mr Parvat Kumar, reporter of the channel. The car in which both were travelling badly hit a roadside tree, resulting in serious injuries of Mukesh.
Both Pravat and Mukesh were brought to Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar where Mukesh was declared dead. His body will be released from the hospital on Sunday after inquest by the police.
The MUFP expressed heart-felt sympathy to the family members of Mukesh Kumar and have urged upon his employers to stand solidly behind his family since he was the only earning member of the family who died while on duty.
MUFP will hold a condolence meeting under the Freedom Tree outside Jayadev Bhavan on Monday morning to pay tributes to the memory of Mukesh.
Friday, February 26, 2010
A “disturbing” spate of police violence against journalists
Reporters Without Borders is extremely shocked and disturbed by a wave of police violence against journalists in Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It has registered a total of 13 cases of abusive treatment and physical attacks by police against media personnel in February alone.
“Given that a police officer was recently suspended for hitting a Dalit woman in the state of Uttar Pradesh, it would be appropriate to punish police officers who treat journalists in a similar manner,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Public opinion was shocked by the footage of this woman being beaten.”
The press freedom organisation added: “We appeal to the federal government and authorities of the states concerned to investigate this unacceptable violence and to urge the security forces to act with more restraint. In Kashmir, in particular, it is no longer enough for those in charge of the police to promise investigations. The abuses must be punished.”
Reporters Without Borders also urges the Uttar Pradesh police to quickly produce hard evidence to justify the continued detention of Seema and Vishwavijay Azad, the founders of the Hindi magazine Dastak Nai Samay Ki, who were arrested on 6 February on the basis of allegations that they belong to an outlawed Maoist movement.
“The state police can target anyone who raises their voice against the government,” said Sandeep Pandey, a well-known social activist, who has criticised their detention. “I have been told that Seema had been writing against sand mafia and land mafia here,” he added.
Kashmir Times photographer Imran Ali was injured by a tear-gas grenade fired by police during a demonstration on 22 February in Srinagar, the capital of the northwestern state of Jammu and Kashmir. S. Tariq, a cameraman with the television news station NDTV, and Umar Ganai, a photographer working for the PTI news agency and the Kashmir Monitor newspaper, were beaten during the same demonstration.
At least six journalists were beaten by members of an elite police unit known as the Greyhounds during pro-separatist demonstrations on the Osmania University campus in Hyderabad (in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh) on 14 and 15 February. The victims included Narsinga Rao of Andhra Jyothi TV, who was beaten with particular ferocity by members of the police unit, who also attacked and damaged press vehicles.
A local reporter for the Kannada TV station was beaten on 13 February by police in Mangalore (in the southwestern state of Karnataka) and was then held in a police station for two hours. Police Sub-Inspector Pramod denied that the reporter was beaten, claiming that he was detained for “rude behaviour” and was released as soon as his identity was established.
Pervez Majeed, the magazine Sahara’s correspondent, was threatened and roughed up by a senior officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on 3 February in Srinagar after he told them he intended to write about a case of police violence against school children he had just witnessed. The officer insulted Majeed and then told his men to “teach him a lesson.” Majeed reported the incident to the police chief Kuldeep Khuda, who promised an investigation.
In another recent case in Srinagar, a police officer opened fire on Amaan Farooq, a photographer with the Greater Kashmir daily newspaper, injuring him in the leg, as he was covering a police operation on 6 January. The police officer, Safdar Samoon, said Farooq refused to leave the scene of a clash with separatists. The Kashmir police chief ordered an investigation.
A Kashmir court ordered local TV stations not to broadcast “provocative” or “anti-government” video footage of major demonstrations that took place in the state on 5 February. Judge Meraj Ahmad ruled that such self-censorship was authorised by article 6 of the 2005 law governing the regulation of cable television.
In an encouraging development, the National Human Rights Commission ordered the Uttar Pradesh authorities on 9 February to pay compensation to Samiuddin Neelu, a journalist with the Hindi newspaper Amar Ujala, who was kidnapped and threatened by police officers in 2005 after writing about police corruption and abuse of authority. “This case is a stark example of not only total apathy but also outright antagonism towards a person, whose right to life was seriously endangered,” the commission said.
Source:RSF
“Given that a police officer was recently suspended for hitting a Dalit woman in the state of Uttar Pradesh, it would be appropriate to punish police officers who treat journalists in a similar manner,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Public opinion was shocked by the footage of this woman being beaten.”
The press freedom organisation added: “We appeal to the federal government and authorities of the states concerned to investigate this unacceptable violence and to urge the security forces to act with more restraint. In Kashmir, in particular, it is no longer enough for those in charge of the police to promise investigations. The abuses must be punished.”
Reporters Without Borders also urges the Uttar Pradesh police to quickly produce hard evidence to justify the continued detention of Seema and Vishwavijay Azad, the founders of the Hindi magazine Dastak Nai Samay Ki, who were arrested on 6 February on the basis of allegations that they belong to an outlawed Maoist movement.
“The state police can target anyone who raises their voice against the government,” said Sandeep Pandey, a well-known social activist, who has criticised their detention. “I have been told that Seema had been writing against sand mafia and land mafia here,” he added.
Kashmir Times photographer Imran Ali was injured by a tear-gas grenade fired by police during a demonstration on 22 February in Srinagar, the capital of the northwestern state of Jammu and Kashmir. S. Tariq, a cameraman with the television news station NDTV, and Umar Ganai, a photographer working for the PTI news agency and the Kashmir Monitor newspaper, were beaten during the same demonstration.
At least six journalists were beaten by members of an elite police unit known as the Greyhounds during pro-separatist demonstrations on the Osmania University campus in Hyderabad (in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh) on 14 and 15 February. The victims included Narsinga Rao of Andhra Jyothi TV, who was beaten with particular ferocity by members of the police unit, who also attacked and damaged press vehicles.
A local reporter for the Kannada TV station was beaten on 13 February by police in Mangalore (in the southwestern state of Karnataka) and was then held in a police station for two hours. Police Sub-Inspector Pramod denied that the reporter was beaten, claiming that he was detained for “rude behaviour” and was released as soon as his identity was established.
Pervez Majeed, the magazine Sahara’s correspondent, was threatened and roughed up by a senior officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on 3 February in Srinagar after he told them he intended to write about a case of police violence against school children he had just witnessed. The officer insulted Majeed and then told his men to “teach him a lesson.” Majeed reported the incident to the police chief Kuldeep Khuda, who promised an investigation.
In another recent case in Srinagar, a police officer opened fire on Amaan Farooq, a photographer with the Greater Kashmir daily newspaper, injuring him in the leg, as he was covering a police operation on 6 January. The police officer, Safdar Samoon, said Farooq refused to leave the scene of a clash with separatists. The Kashmir police chief ordered an investigation.
A Kashmir court ordered local TV stations not to broadcast “provocative” or “anti-government” video footage of major demonstrations that took place in the state on 5 February. Judge Meraj Ahmad ruled that such self-censorship was authorised by article 6 of the 2005 law governing the regulation of cable television.
In an encouraging development, the National Human Rights Commission ordered the Uttar Pradesh authorities on 9 February to pay compensation to Samiuddin Neelu, a journalist with the Hindi newspaper Amar Ujala, who was kidnapped and threatened by police officers in 2005 after writing about police corruption and abuse of authority. “This case is a stark example of not only total apathy but also outright antagonism towards a person, whose right to life was seriously endangered,” the commission said.
Source:RSF
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
MUFP CONDEMNS ATTACK ON OTV JOURNALIST
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 23: Media Unity for Freedom of Press(MUFP) strongly condemns the physical assault by Sri Gour Prasad Das, manager of Cuttack Urban Co-operative Bank, of Jajpur, on Sri Abhay Pati, Reporter of Orissa Television(OTV), while covering the Vigilance raid on his house on 20th February, 2010.
It is noted that tainted functionaries in different sectors in increasing numbers are attacking journalists on duty.
MUFP strongly feels that lack of criminal action against such miscreants is the reason of increasing assault on Press.
We call upon the police to initiate action on this specific instance of use of physical force to intimidate the OTV Reporter by the exposed Bank manager in presence of vigilance sleuths.
The MUFP also urge upon the authorities of the concerned Bank to take immediate exemplary action against the erring manager so that in future none of the employees would dare to manhandle any journalist on duty.
We also suggest the vigilance police to reflect the crime of intimidation resorted to by the raided Bank manager in their charge sheet against the culprit.
For Media Unit for Freedom of Press
Prasanta Patnaik,
Rabi Das,
Sampad Mohapatra,
Subhas Chandra Patnaik,
Gopal Mohapatra,
Sudhir Patnaik,
It is noted that tainted functionaries in different sectors in increasing numbers are attacking journalists on duty.
MUFP strongly feels that lack of criminal action against such miscreants is the reason of increasing assault on Press.
We call upon the police to initiate action on this specific instance of use of physical force to intimidate the OTV Reporter by the exposed Bank manager in presence of vigilance sleuths.
The MUFP also urge upon the authorities of the concerned Bank to take immediate exemplary action against the erring manager so that in future none of the employees would dare to manhandle any journalist on duty.
We also suggest the vigilance police to reflect the crime of intimidation resorted to by the raided Bank manager in their charge sheet against the culprit.
For Media Unit for Freedom of Press
Prasanta Patnaik,
Rabi Das,
Sampad Mohapatra,
Subhas Chandra Patnaik,
Gopal Mohapatra,
Sudhir Patnaik,
Prafulla Das.
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