Media Policy Adds to Difficulty for Kashmiri Press
2020-07-14
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1Critics are denouncing new media laws in Jammu and Kashmir State as measures to suppress government criticism.
2They also argue that the laws violate the country's constitution.
3India announced the new policy last month.
4It empowers officials to accredit the reporters and news organizations it considers acceptable.
5It also permits Indian officials to declare what is "false" news, and what are "incitements" against the government.
6Kashmir and Jammu has been under tight controls for almost a year.
7Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seized powers from the state government following fighting between Kashmiris and security forces.
8Thousands of people have been arrested in that period, including members of the press.
9 The government also has severely restricted internet service in the area.
10"Those 2G services are also shut down at least once or twice a week under the pretext of militant encounters or COVID-19," says Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a Kashmiri human rights and international law expert.
11The new media policy targets Kashmir only.
12It gives the Department of Information and Public Relations the power to legally accuse media organizations and their employees of misinformation, fake news, plagiarism and anti-national activities.
13Reporters and news groups accused of such wrongdoing can face a loss of accreditation and money from advertisers.
14Srinagar-based reporter Gowhar Geelani told VOA the policy makes the DIPR, "the judge, jury and the executioner, " and leads to self-censorship.
15Geelani and other reporters have been charged with "glorifying terrorism in the Kashmir Valley" and putting anti-national material on social media in recent months.
16They believe those charges will result in a denial of their accreditation.
17VOA asked the Jammu and Kashmir state public relations director for comment on the new rules.
18The official did not answer the email.
19The government says it enacted the measures to stop Pakistani attempts to damage peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir.
20India accuses Pakistan of aiding terrorism in the state.
21Pakistan denies the accusations.
22The new policy began in May.
23The DIPR says it will consider media protests about its decisions.
24Several reporters said they were worried about the accreditation process, which includes investigations by security forces.
25News organizations need accreditation to be able to publish legally and to receive government advertising contracts, a large part of their financial security.
26The Indian government stopped advertisements to at least three large newspaper groups last year.
27Critics called the move likely "retaliation" for critical reports about the government.
28Shuja ul Haq is president of the Kashmir Press Club.
29He said that permitting government officials to judge media reports as acceptable or unacceptable violates the constitutional right of free expression.
30Reporters in Kashmir already face COVID-19 and internet restrictions, says Srinagar-based reporter Bilal Hussain.
31"This new policy has made me to think tens of times before writing," he said.
32I'm Susan Shand.
1Critics are denouncing new media laws in Jammu and Kashmir State as measures to suppress government criticism. They also argue that the laws violate the country's constitution. 2India announced the new policy last month. It empowers officials to accredit the reporters and news organizations it considers acceptable. It also permits Indian officials to declare what is "false" news, and what are "incitements" against the government. 3Kashmir and Jammu has been under tight controls for almost a year. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seized powers from the state government following fighting between Kashmiris and security forces. Thousands of people have been arrested in that period, including members of the press. The government also has severely restricted internet service in the area. 4"Those 2G services are also shut down at least once or twice a week under the pretext of militant encounters or COVID-19," says Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a Kashmiri human rights and international law expert. 5The new media policy targets Kashmir only. It gives the Department of Information and Public Relations the power to legally accuse media organizations and their employees of misinformation, fake news, plagiarism and anti-national activities. 6Reporters and news groups accused of such wrongdoing can face a loss of accreditation and money from advertisers. 7Srinagar-based reporter Gowhar Geelani told VOA the policy makes the DIPR, "the judge, jury and the executioner, " and leads to self-censorship. 8Geelani and other reporters have been charged with "glorifying terrorism in the Kashmir Valley" and putting anti-national material on social media in recent months. They believe those charges will result in a denial of their accreditation. 9VOA asked the Jammu and Kashmir state public relations director for comment on the new rules. The official did not answer the email. 10The government says it enacted the measures to stop Pakistani attempts to damage peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of aiding terrorism in the state. Pakistan denies the accusations. 11The new policy began in May. The DIPR says it will consider media protests about its decisions. 12Several reporters said they were worried about the accreditation process, which includes investigations by security forces. 13News organizations need accreditation to be able to publish legally and to receive government advertising contracts, a large part of their financial security. 14The Indian government stopped advertisements to at least three large newspaper groups last year. Critics called the move likely "retaliation" for critical reports about the government. 15Shuja ul Haq is president of the Kashmir Press Club. He said that permitting government officials to judge media reports as acceptable or unacceptable violates the constitutional right of free expression. 16Reporters in Kashmir already face COVID-19 and internet restrictions, says Srinagar-based reporter Bilal Hussain. 17"This new policy has made me to think tens of times before writing," he said. 18I'm Susan Shand. 19VOA's Iala Mohammad reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 222G - adj. the second generation of internet speed 23pretext - n. an excuse for doing something 24encounter - v. to meet a person or to find a situation 25plagarism - n. to steal the writing of another person 26censorship - n. government imposed restrictions on what can be written 27glorify - v. to make something seem grand or important 28retaliation - n. to act against someone in response to their first action