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Issue 7 Vol I, January 15, 2006 analysis
Media in the Upfront: The Bell Tolls for Hatred
Punjab –Punjab Consultation: The upshot of the conference was that the Punjab government would press hard the Indian government to allow visa free movement of journalists, setup a two square kilometer park on no man’s land at Atari - Wagha junction for a common trade center, restaurants, hotels, sports facilities theatres and exhibition grounds. SAFMA pledged to press Pakistan government to agree to this as the proposal had basically come from it. Here both Indians and Pakistanis could enter with just a simple permit, stay for a specified period, do business and be merry. Punjab would facilitate fast movement for trade expansion. In order to give momentum it is setting up a group of experts from industry, agriculture, trade, media and culture besides tourism to provide fill up to Punjab – Punjab relations. This report will come in three months and action to begin forthwith. No times to waste as the disruptionist are waiting on both sides. For long media in both India and Pakistan as well as in the two Punjabs has been swayed by the respective establishments in the name of 'national security', 'national interests' and by adversarial xenophobia. Majority of publications, television and media practitioners continued to be embedded to respective nationalist standpoints or civil-military establishments, without regard to the merit of one case or the other. Rise of ethno-regional nationalism, religious fanaticism and various extremist outfits and religious militias, as it made the life of people so of the journalists miserable. Freedom of the Press and expression continues to be curbed in varying degrees by subtle or not so subtle pressures and indoctrination. It is in this context that the role of media as builder of understanding and peace which an organisation like South Asia Free Media Association or SAFMA in the popular parlance needs to be appreciated. Can media institutions and journalists who are more used to the language of acrimony, hatred and jingoism in the Indian sub continent adopt themselves to the language of peace? Lexicon is not the issue as it provides ample vocabulary for peace and justice, it is the mindset. There is a big effort at that. The strong desire for peace among the people who have suffered one of the worst holocausts of partition and massacre in 1947 when the mischievous imperialists divided the sub continent on communal lines and the consequent hatred that swayed and the wars that came, have made people sick. They hold imperial powers and their small time leaders responsible for this permanent attrition and war like situation. . When India and Pakistan fight wars, they do not win someone else- the manufacturers of lethal weapons, armament and the states that promote wars- do win. People in the sub continent remain poor while these nations grow fat with the cash earned from selling bombs and missiles and fighter planes. Some years back a group of some courageous individuals and civil society action groups began a people to people contact programme. As it took shape a movement ensued and the result is the enlargement the peace constituency. This strong desire of peace and amity also inspired some journalists in South Asia and result was SAFMA. This organisation is not only concentrating on the journalists, their visits to different countries, seminars, training workshops, but putting pressure on the public men and other important sections to open borders and settle outstanding issues through negotiation- track II diplomacy and open negotiation. Results are encouraging. In the long chain, one such meeting of the SAFMA was hosted from January 5 to 9, 2005 by Chandigarh Press Club and a non government organisation, Indian Institute of Development and Communication. Punjab and Haryana governments backed it as did major political parties like Akali Dal. Agriculture experts, economists, farmers, journalists and experts participated at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh. Media’s
World Newspapers and magazines in cold print are meant for both quick and leisured reading and only literates can consume these. Radio is a tribal drum; suits even oral societies and require no literate background. It is audio against television that demands the attention of both, the ear and the eye. Media in two Punjabs has grown in size, content and presentation over the past some decades. Increased literacy, awareness and more money in the pockets of the burgeoning middle class backed by more advertisement revenue due growing economies have facilitated this growth. But it has made the job of the journalists more difficult. In order to preserve their fiercely independent, hypercritical, and antagonistic role visa Vis the "establishment,” they have to take independent positions and bear the consequence. Media persons despite these odds continue to perform some adversarial role in relation to the state. Journalists have to struggle hard not only against powerful well trenched interests in the organs of the state, political parties and various kinds of fundamentalists, but also because of the commercial nature of the media itself. It is not a hard fact that no state in South Asia, with varying degrees, is ready to accept the adversarial role of media as a watchdog of civil society, nor has any state come up with an effective law to ensure the fundamental right to information. Freedom of expression also continues to be curbed in one way or the other. At the beginning of the meeting, media persons from the two Punjabs and also from Delhi passed a resolution condemning the killing of several journalists in 2005 and 2004 in South Asia .Calling them martyrs to the cause of freedom of press, these twelve journalist in 2005 and 21 in 2004 who laid down their lives after suffering torture, the meeting expressed sympathy with the bereaved families. The media persons also expressed anguish at the continued detention and harassment of journalists all over the South Asian countries. The resolution stated,” Woes of South Asian media are no different from those of any other conflict-ridden region where journalists, like so many other 'collateral' vulnerabilities, become a victim to the crossfire among the adversaries. In 2005, 12 journalists lost their lives in South Asia. They were victims of either state repression or criminals who were getting exposed by them. Four of them were from Pakistan, three from Bangladesh, two from Sri Lanka and two from Nepal besides and one each from Indian and Afghanistan. Earlier in 2004, another 21 journalists fell either to the guns of parties to various conflicts or local strongmen who are intolerant of exposure of their misdeeds by the media. Nepal and Bangladesh topped the list as six journalists were killed in each country, followed by India and Sri Lanka where four each were murdered and Pakistan with one death.” Around 40 journalists participated in the deliberation which was chaired and by senior columnist and a great votary of peace in the sub continent. Kuldip Nayyar and conducted by columnist Gobind Thukral. Mr Nayyar suggested that there should be our own news agency and we should decrease our dependence upon foreign news agencies which have their peculiar angle. He said he was making efforts in this regard. He had also written to the Indian prime minister to setup media commission to study the freedom of the media and other important issues like the relations of the journalists and of the editor with corporate media owners and managements. Later participants focussed on peace journalism and conflict resolution. There was total unanimity that the media people should strengthen the people to people contact and become agents for justice and peace. Through another resolution the media persons who had gathered under the aegis of SAFMA and Chandigarh Press Club unanimously stated: “This Punjab- Punjab meeting of the media persons urges the governments in the two countries and the two states of Punjab to ease curbs on the movement of journalists and allow movement through liberal visa regimes to perform their bonafide professional work. “On free flow of information and media products across the frontiers of both Punjabs, there should be fewer restrictions. Despite SAFMA’s efforts, visa regime has not been relaxed forthwith. “We are committed to the right to know and freedom of expression, as recognised by the UN, being a “fundamental human right and the touchstone of all freedoms”, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as a basis for informed and authentic civil society and a pluralist democracy. “We are convinced that right to know and freedom of expression, access to and free flow of information ensure information as empowerment for many based on inclusion, as opposed to the ‘need to know’ based upon exclusion and as power for the few. It promotes awareness, transparency, protection and exercise of rights and empowerment of the people. These rights are vital to the capacity of media and the citizenry in tipping the balance in favour of human rights, human security, humane governance, participatory development, empowerment of the people and the hegemony of civil society through its freely expressed will, regardless of any distinction on the basis of belief, gender, and social status, place of origin or residence. “We understand our duties as citizens and opinion-makers in the two Punjabs and pledge to promote peace eradicate terrorism and violence and religious extremism and communalism by both state and non-state actors and stabilise nuclear regime. “We demand from the foreign ministers of member countries of SARC and from SARC Secretariat that the decisions of the Council of Ministers meeting to exempt from via be implemented immediately. | |||||||||||||||||
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Slowly but surely India is opening its arms to Pravasis
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance during their rule 1999-2004 realized this potential and started the Pravasi Divas, an annual three-day convention for Indian Diaspora. It is aimed at networking an estimated 25 million overseas Indians spread over 110 countries. For the political class, it is also garnering of funds from these Parvasis. The Congress-led government did not wish to be left behind in pleasing this massive economic power which sent home $20 billon last year. This has risen from $14 billion in 2001 and set to grow even bigger considering the a large number of of technology professionals and workers moving overseas to make a living. This year Manmohan Singh made the convention stimulating by launching the much awaited dual citizenship for overseas citizens. The Overseas Citizenship of India scheme grants a life-long multiple-entry visa to the Indian Diaspora and allows people of Indian origin who are not Indian nationals most of the same rights as Indian nationals except the right to vote. Singh handed over the documents related to the grant of overseas Indian citizenship — comprising a passport and a card -- to two Indian Americans — Nivruti Rai , who is currently employed with Intel in Bangalore, and Iftikar Ahmed Sharif, who traces his roots back to Hyderabad. He also announced other initiatives for the benefit of overseas Indians and proposed several on-site welfare measures to address some of their concerns, including an easy-to-use remittance facility, a Pravasi Bharatiya bima yojana, modernisation of the emigration process and setting up of a Diaspora knowledge network. The prime minister assured the government was committed to creating a favourable climate for investment in the country and urged the overseas Indians to make use of the business opportunities available. Specially because NRIs and PIOs have been the most important elements of country’s globalization and overseas Indian workers have been contributing a great deal to the economic enrichment of the country. And what’s wrong in inviting Pravasis to make the most of fast expanding Indian economy, the fourth largest in Asia. After all India is their mother land where stock markets are booming, real estate growth has thrown everyone into a tizzy and industrial output is at a record high. For the millions of Indian nationals working in Gulf countries, who send large remittances back home but are not allowed to vote, despite being Indian citizens, Singh said: “This proposal is at an advanced stage of consideration by our government. Their demand has a convincing political basis. Most of them have families back in India and thus have a vital stake in local governance, including the issue of who would represent them in the state assembly or the national Parliament.” An integrated electronic remittance gateway in partnership with the UTI Bank to simplify the transfer of money to India from anywhere in the world was also launched. There is also a commitment to simplify the procedure for applying for Indian citizenship and the government was considering options, including the possibility of issuing smart cards to overseas citizens. A ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to look after the interests of the Indian Diaspora has already been put in place. As many as 8,000 applications for overseas citizenship have been received so far. On December 23, 2003, Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003. Those eligible to become citizens of India as on January 26, 1950, could now apply for dual Indian citizenship provided their home countries allowed them to do so. Dual citizenship allows the person to live in India indefinitely, unlike the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card, which permitted a single stay for a period of six months. Dual citizens do not have voting rights. Neither can they be elected to public office. As per the amended law, persons of Indian origin who were citizens of Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Cyprus, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States were eligible to apply for dual citizenship. Taxation laws applying to dual citizens are similar to those applicable to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Dual taxation avoidance agreements signed by India with other countries are applicable. Any person who has been at any time a citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh or any other country that the Central Government may notify in future is not entitled to dual citizenship. | |||||||||||||||||
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Health Care Rocks
Canadian Politics
The Paul Martin government fell after the NDP supported the no confidence motion brought in the house by the Conservatives. Earlier, the NDP had given a conditional support to the government. However, the understanding between the NDP leader Jack Layton and Martin broke on the healthcare issue. Layton claims that Ujjal Dosanjh supported two tier health system leaving room for the profit making companies to creep into the public healthcare. Layton had sought assurance from the Martin government that under no circumstances they would let the system go into private hands. The deliberations between the two sides failed to bring any understanding on this matter prompting the NDP to withdraw support. As the country is heading for federal election on January 23, Dosanjh is now claiming that the NDP is plainly lying. He claims that the NDP was desperate to bring our government down and was looking for an opportunity to do so. Dosanjh claims that much like the NDP, the Liberals also strongly support the public health care system. If Dosanjh is to be believed the NDP pressed for amendment in Canada Health Act to put brakes on the private clinics functioning outside the public health care system. Although he claims that he does not support two-tier health system but the private clinics continue to operate since the public health care system was adopted in Canada. He says that the NDP’s demand for a change in the Canada Health Act was not right. He is instead blaming the provincial governments for the mushroomed growth of private health clinics. As Layton is touring the country with a message to the voters to choose between the credit card and the care card, Dosanjh is trying to copy him. ``I don’t want our doctors to check the credit cards of a patient instead of his or her pulse’’. Ironically, a private healthcare center has opened in Dosanjh’s own city of Vancouver. This clinic reportedly offer services covered under public health care for money. Despite being a health minister, Dosanjh is not sure if that violates the Canada Health Act. He says that our government wanted to integrate the doctors with foreign credentials to reduce the waiting period in hospitals and put in more money in the public healthcare, but the opposition did not let this happen. Dosanjh is not willing to take responsibility for the present federal election. He says that the government did not fall because of him. ``It is the NDP and other opposition groups who have slapped this election on the country. They wanted to take advantage of the Gomery Committee Report’’. Justice John Gomery who was looking into the sponsorship scandal blamed the Liberals of promoting cronyism that prompted the Conservatives to bring a no confidence motion. The Liberal government was accused of awarding sponsorship contracts to the liberal friendly companies causing loss to the state exchequer. Meanwhile, Layton is firm on his position. He says that the public healthcare system has deteriorated under the 12-year rule of the Liberals. Quoting a Profit magazine report he says that the most profitable business in Canada is the pharmaceuticals. According to Layton the government needs to put in more money in the public health system instead of encouraging a parallel health system that will take the doctors and nurses outside public system only to make matter worse in public hospitals. | |||||||||||||||||
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Making a Grade
IN June 2004 elections, seven public men of Indian origin were elected to the Canadian House of Commons. These seven MPs among the 308 members of Commons made a history of sorts many others did in the provincial assemblies. It was the largest number of MPs from any coloured ethnic group in this multicultural society made possible of the concentration of population of immigrants from Asia. On the whole Canadian population is concentrated on the borders close its big brother, America. For the first time a Punjabi Ujjal Dosanjh took charge of an all important health portfolio in the federal government lead by the Liberal party. He was earlier first non white and first Punjabi to be Premier of British Columbia in 2000. Again, for the first time an NRI Punjabi couple, Gurmant and Nina Grewal were on the Conservative benches in the Canadian parliament. In fact, the Indo-Canadians had made a record of sorts in 2004 by sending two youngest members to Parliament and the country's first MP couple. The two youngest MPs were the province of Ontario and both won as Liberal party candidates. Twenty seven-year-old Navdeep Bains won from Mississauga-Brampton South and Ruby Dhalla from Brampton-Springdale. Both these ridings have a huge presence of discernible minorities. In fact, Mississauga is one of the few ridings in this country to have more coloured voters than white voters. While Gurmant is not contesting, all others include Gurbax Malhi who had three times from a predominantly white constituency of Brampton. Interestingly, it was from Ontario Malhi had become the first Indo-Canadian to be elected in 1993.There is lone Indo-Canadian from Alberta, Deepak Obhrai who had won thrice in Calgary East. Not only were Bains and Dhalla, youngest of the lot but they were also the most qualified among the contestants. Will these two under 30 Indo-Canadians be able to make it to the august house again? If Ontario sent three Indo-Canadians to the House in 2004, British Columbia too sent in three including Dosanjh who was pulled out of his 'retirement' by Prime Minister Paul Martin to have a few heavyweights from western Canada in his cabinet. This time , Gurmant, who was in the thick of a few controversies, including the unsavory tape scandal, has pulled out of the fray to spare his party bosses any embarrassment during the campaign despite being cleared by a probe of any wrongdoing. He was, perhaps not very sure of victory. Ever since Dosanjh jumped from the NDP and went over to the Federal Liberal camp of Paul Martin, he has been more closely watched than most other politicians by the South Asian community. It is widely believed and rightly so that what happens to their man in Ottawa and how he conducts himself will have significant impact on the South Asians as a whole. Except for some extremely tense moments during the Gurmant Grewal tapes saga, Dosanjh has stood up to the test. As custodian of Canada's most cherished public program, healthcare, he has had to tread a fine line. “Any slight slip and he would face a drop into a tricky crevice where opponents waited to tear him apart. At the end of that 17 months tightrope dance, Dosanjh has emerged as a national leader who is trusted for his integrity and admired for the way he deals with difficult issues.” One commentator said. How many finally make to parliament would be known in the last week of January. | |||||||||||||||||
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Royalty and Democracy:
King Jigme’s decision to convert the traditional feudal monarchy into a modern-day democracy would pave the way for good development and progress. He has already made diverse efforts towards cultural preservation, environmental measures, smart diplomacy especially with India, and brought in high-end tourism to cash in on the attractive Drukpa-Kagyu culture of north and west Bhutan. The monarch’s ability to turn astute Western and Indian diplomats into praiseful supplicants makes him unique among the leaders of South Asia. Yet one wonders why Indian foreign minister officials expressed such skepticism. Will democracy mean lessening of Indian hold or its influence over the mountains or what else? No coherent explanation came, but they did indulge in kite flying, questioning wisdom behind the moves.
The draft constitution, however, has many elements that are questionable and must be challenged, including the king’s prerogative to appoint Supreme Court judges, and the government’s ability to create statelessness in its citizenry. Once adopted, the constitution will replace 50-year-old royal decree under which Bhutan has been ruled. It seems Pakistan and Nepal which have been badly hit by poverty and deadly rebel violence can learn a lesson or two from King Jigme. | |||||||||||||||||
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SOUTH ASIA POST INC. | |||||||||||||||||
SOPS
for Pravasis or the non resident Indians announced by the Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh at Hyderabad on January 7 are not just an emotional gesture. Pravasis have become
a major economic power and their contribution towards building India is now
significant. So it’s time to bring them into the economic and
political mainstream of the country.
F
KING
Jigme Singye Wangchuk of Bhutan has decided to abdicate his throne and move
towards parliamentary democracy. It certainly is commendable, especially in the
context of the nation’s South Asian neighbours Nepal and Pakistan. One in the
grip of King who has dismissed democratically elected government and replaced it
with a puppet council of ministers. The other, Pakistan enjoys the status of a
“guided democracy” and is ruled by an army dictator.
The king has
appointed an election commissioner as part of the country's move towards
parliamentary democracy in 2008. The 50-year-old king announced that he was
abdicating the throne in favour of his eldest son, Crown Prince Jigme Khesar
Namgyal Wangchuck, 25, ahead of prime ministerial elections in 2008. The
transition towards democracy began four years ago when the king handed over the
powers of daily governance to a council of ministers. And last year, a 34-point
constitution was unveiled.