SOUTH ASIA: Differing on Right to Information

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Kalinga Seneviratne

DHAKA, May 13 2008 (IPS) - The right to information (RTI), as espoused by the United Nations and international human rights organisations, does not have full endorsement from South Asian media practitioners and scholars.

At a meeting here earlier this month, to discuss the value and applicability of RTI, many argued that it is a right to be enjoyed by media in all South Asian countries as an essential ingredient of independent journalism, but others said it needs to be practiced with responsibility.

Differences cropped up among Bangaldeshis, the hosts. Prof. Harun-or-Rashid president of the Bangla Academy wanted a full review of the recent RTI Act in his country, saying many of the clauses actually act as barriers to free and timely access to information.

But chairman of the United News of Bangladesh, Amanullah Khan, praised the (military installed) interim government for formulating this act – as well as the separation of the judiciary from the state – as key towards achieving good governance and peoples’ empowerment.

Khan pointed out that the present Dhaka government has repeatedly described the media as the second parliament in the absence of a functioning parliament. Yet, the New Age newspaper, in a stinging editorial this month, argues that the Bangladesh government’s idea of the media acting as the parliament is based on the premise that this ‘parliament’ will not have dissenting voices. They pointed out the constant harassment by government officials of media personalities with phone calls giving unwarranted suggestions for reportage.

The editor of Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, The Daily Star, Mahfuz Anam, argues that the media has a responsibility to create an environment for right to information. “Free press is often seen by journalists as existing for their benefit,” observed Anam. “This is where we have gone wrong. Unless we can convince the people that it is for their benefit (a free press) our ability to function in a free media environment is contained”.

Anam said journalists should be constantly aware that their profession is about serving the public interest, and that is why the media should enjoy certain freedoms. “If the public is given information, you can ensure accountability by questioning government decisions and actions,” he argued.

One of India’s leading investigative journalists Aniruddha Bahal of the news portal Cobrapost.com pointed out that since India introduced an RTI law five years ago, every Indian citizen has gained the right to question the government . “Right to information is to bring out the facts. If journalists are not able to use it, then they are not practicing their profession,” he argued.

Bahal, known for carrying out sensational sting operations exposing corruption, in government and outside, said his stories often lead to prosecutions in court and that he consequently ends up spending a good number of days each month in courts. He needs to have a team of 10 bodyguards to protect him, not from the government but from corrupt people and criminal syndicates.

When it comes to press freedom fingers are often pointed at governments when the reality on the ground may be entirely different. “We don’t normally get threats from the government but from those outside,” said Ghamaraj Luitel, station manager of Radio Sagarmatha, Nepal’s pioneering independent community radio station which now claims to be a mainstream public service broadcaster in Kathmandu.

“Many groups which are agitating (against the government) want their news in the mainstream media. When they see their news anywhere else but on the front page, they harass the editors and publishers as well,” he added.

Much of the current debate in South Asia is national security issues are legitimate grounds for curtailment of media freedom. Many argue that this should not be, and that governments should not be allowed to use that as an excuse to censor the media.

Participants from Sri Lanka were particularly divided on this issue.

“Nowhere in the world are reporters allowed to have untrammelled freedom to report on national security issues. Troops can’t be compromised,” argued Rajpal Abeynayake, editor of Lakbima, an independent English language weekly in Sri Lanka. “It is not an issue of patriotism (to accept this fact) but an issue of security for you, your family and the community,’’ he told IPS.

Abeyanayake said that in Sri Lanka, where an intense civil war is raging between government forces and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who regularly send suicide bombers into the community, certain reporting of military action or even of the type of arms the government has acquired may compromise the security of state and community.

“Press freedom needs to accompanied by responsibility,” argues Abeynayake. “Responsibility needs to be exercised in a way that you don’t give the state the ammunition to take away your freedom.’’

Syed Faseih Iqbal, editor-in-chief of the Daily Balochistan Times from Pakistan told IPS that the lawyers movement which rose up against President Pervez Musharaf contributed to democracy in Pakistan society and free the media. While the Musharaf government regularly used the national security issue as an excuse to gag the media, the new coalition government has revived the Access to Information Act, Iqbal said.

“The coalition partners were all in the opposition before and they understand the meaning of these (media) restrictions,” noted Iqbal. “I’m happy this time Pakistan will lead the region in freeing up the media. Good times are ahead for the press in Pakistan.’’

A military-installed civilian government in Bangladesh plans to introduce community radio and free up the airwaves for people’s voices, the Sri Lankan government battles to contain media reporting of the on-going civil war on national security grounds and Pakistan’s new government is trying to dismantle some of the media restrictions imposed by years of military rule.

‘’No wonder South Asians differ so much on the concept of RTI and will probably do continue doing so for some time to come,’’ said one observer.