Issue 46 Vol II, August 31, 2007

F O C U S

Media, Violence and Poverty Eradication
Gobind Thukral writes from Colombo

WHEN journalists meet at conferences or otherwise, it is rare for them to come to an agreement. These could be issues confronting them or the society at large. It is natural to have divergent opinions. But when they are asked to promote peace and help project poverty, there are no dissenting voices. At the 6th regional conference in Colombo on August 18-20 organised by South Asia Free Media Association, there was total conformity that media should promote peace, oppose violence and help alleviate the poor. Of course, there could be divergent opinions as how media should go about achieving these goals.

There was a galaxy of speakers telling media to look into the mirror and find out if was projecting reality in South Asia where world’s most poor [ after Africa] lived. Nearly 70 of the two billion people who lived in countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lank and Maldives were the world’s pitiable deprived people. Critical assessment of the present stage of the media, particularly the dominant mainstream media that was committed to maximizing profit and trivialising news and opinions came not only from the political class, but also from senior editors cutting across the countries. Some found media, at least a large section of it quite weird. To have different political perceptions and projecting these was one thing, but titillation, sexism and promotion of a creepy world view about culture and human body as a commodity, another. Grab readers by whatever means and sell these to advertisers and fill your coffers seemed to be the motto for many. For 250 odd journalists who gathered from eight countries to understand the issues regarding media, poverty and violence was one thing, but to create some kind of bond to fight for media freedom another.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasri Wickramanayake who inaugurated suggested some introspection as many media institutions were not doing their duty. “As any decent human being has a conscience and a social consciousness, the media too, which after all is composed of human beings, must have a conscience and a social consciousness. Our duty as human beings is to wish for and work for the welfare of all our peoples, in other words for the greater good of the greater number." Right.

But then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksawhom whom journalists met at his palace was evasive of telling the truth about peace moves in that strife torn country and what his government was doing to achieve this. He was least prepared to answer questions and share any information as was his prime minister. This way he was only denying freedom of information and that of the media. So when you deny information, you only shackle media and it shows the dark side of politics of South Asia. Where do their sermons to the media stand?

Two senior editors, legendary S. Nihal Singh, former editor of The Statesman, The Indian Express   and The Khalij Times and the other H.K. Dua who had the privilege of editing four major newspapers, The Hindustan Times, The Indian Express and The Times of India and now a trust owned, The Tribune were sad to note the trivialisation of news and opinions. Most present shared their concern.  SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam and president K.K.Katyal were more critical in their assessment of the present stage of media in South Asia than politicians from both sides in Sri Lanka or elsewhere.

There was indeed something to remember for the journalists. This was the Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus who suggested media to have clear agenda and time frame to help reduce poverty and end conflicts. The Nobel Laureate said “South Asian region was moving on the economic scale very fast and the rate has to be faster.  We should now decide when poverty could be put in the museums.” He urged, “For the need for gathering unlimited courage to resolve conflicts among countries of the region and act quickly to turn it into a region of peace and prosperity. We spent more time for falling apart than coming closer. But we can come together because it is the question of our survival, our dignity.” Journalists could contribute bringing the countries of the regional grouping together as, "There is nothing better than peace." Poverty is not created by the poor and the media could do some introspection and focus on the issues worrying the people.

“Why would we not be able to achieve zero poverty by 2030?" he posed the question, underlining the need for the nations to make their own planning for eliminating poverty and attaining prosperity. "Should we set our target by ourselves or wait for the West to set our target?" was his was salvo-through the media to the South Asian leaders.

Dr Yunus who has successfully helped over 1.5 million of the worst poor in Bangladesh to stand on their own feet through his Gramin Bank plan which is funded by the poor for the poor said, “The poor do not create poverty rather it is created by those who run the governments. Unless the system is changed, poverty cannot be eradicated.  Poverty is created because we have built our theoretical framework on assumptions which underestimates human capacity, by designing concepts, which are too narrow or developing institutions, which remain half done.” He affirmed, "I firmly believe that we can create a poverty-free world if we collectively believe in it. In a poverty free world, the only place you would be able to see poverty is in poverty museums."

Colombo Declaration:  In line with this thinking the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) resolved to bring into focus rampant poverty in the region and support pro-poor, poor-centered strategies of eradicating poverty at grassroots level by breaking anti-people power nexuses. The poverty is the most serious issue that has to be handled both at national and regional level. The South Asian region has all the resources. Economies are growing, but poverty is also worsening."  SAFMA, a Saarc-affiliated influential body of journalists also noted the importance of the media to create public consciousness and thus force the political class to act. And Imtiaz Alam was specific when he said that this was SAFMA’s main objective.

The Declaration also extended support to democratic aspirations and ongoing struggles of the people in those countries of the region where fundamental rights and democratic values are either under attack or are yet to be introduced or restored. "We demand restoration of full-fledged democracy, independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and media freedom.

The declaration identified increasing defence budgets and heavy debts as two major contributing factors to the phenomenon of worsening poverty despite economic growth.” Therefore, we demand an early resolution of all conflicts and a considerable moratorium by the lending agencies and countries for the repayments of the debts," the declaration said. Globalisation has increased social vulnerability in South Asia and has seen deterioration of conditions on job market and food security.

The Colombo Declaration called upon SAARC member-countries to ultimately move towards South Asian Human Security. It called upon the SAARC countries to work for peace and stability in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and collectively fight against terrorism and religious extremism or ethnic chauvinism.

The meet condemned the punitive and prohibitive measures taken by both state and non-state factors against the media and demand undiluted media freedom, right to know and freedom of expression in all countries in the region. It has been working hard to provide visas to journalists so that they could travel unhindered in these eight countries to report.

On Environment, the declaration said the South Asian region is under high environmental stress brought about by both natural and manmade causes. Intra-state and inter-State conflicts are a major contributor to environmental destruction.

The conference suggested the countries should act together on vast range of environmental issues in the region, which is witnessing phenomenal weather conditions like calamitous floods, earthquakes or tsunami and droughts by turns.

The need for the SAFMA and much more other media organisation and the journalists would be to find ways and means to help in the promotion of peace and ending poverty. Set a clear time bound agenda and find out everyday how much space and time is devoted to these two fundamental issues. Violence and peace are yet not worn out clichés.

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Multiculturalism, the Only Way for America
Dr Sawraj Singh

THE situation arriving out of the new security rules for the turban at the airports shows that America has not come to grips with its multicultural reality. The turban has become a symbol of pluralism, diversity, and multiculturalism. Therefore, the issue of the turban is not an issue of Sikhs versus America, but is an issue of Real America versus Illusionary America. Because the reality is that America has already become a multicultural society. Those who are denying this reality are actually living in a state of denial and illusion.

Scholars tell us that turbans have been worn by different people around the world for at least the past 3,000 years. For one community, the Sikhs, the turban carries deep religious significance. Members of the Sikh faith - the fifth largest religion in the world - are required to wear a turban pursuant to religious mandate.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Sikh turbans have taken on a new meaning. Because Non-Sikhs tend to associate Sikhs' turbans with Osama bin Laden, Sikhs with turbans have become a superficial and accessible proxy. As a result, turbaned Sikhs in America have been victims of racial violence and have had their identity challenged by calls for immigrant groups to assimilate into Western societies.

Accepting and tolerating diversity is the cornerstone for keeping America peaceful, progressive, and prosperous.  Whether it is an individual or a country, denial leads to problems. For people of different cultural backgrounds to live in harmony, it is essential to understand and respect cultural values of different cultures.  Sometimes one culture may promote different values than another culture on the same issue.  A good example of this phenomenon is the turban. The eastern and the western cultures have very different and even opposite concepts about the turban.

For the west, the turban is just a headdress such as a hat.  If a person goes to any respectable or decent place, then he takes his hat off.  Even the expression “hats off” means showing respect or appreciating something.  To the east, the turban represents ones identity, tradition, and self respect. In case of the Sikhs, it is also their religious sign. In all of the eastern cultures, covering your head means showing respect and taking someone’s turban off means humiliating them. In the Punjabi language, if a person says that somebody touched his turban or took off his turban then it means that somebody tried to humiliate him or actually humiliated him.

As America is becoming increasingly diverse, it has become even more important that Americans learn to show responsibility and respect for the different cultures and religions. America has already alienated and antagonized the Muslims.  We are paying a very heavy price for such an approach in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in the rest of the areas where America has vital interests.

More than half a million Sikhs in North America are very hard working and peaceful people. With their dedication and hard work, they have made great achievements. They have already become, per capita, the biggest owners of the land. They want to peacefully integrate into the mainstream and show a great respect for the law of the land. They want to see a peaceful and prosperous America.

The Sikh philosophy preaches love, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, universal concern, and universal well- being. The Sikh religion is chronologically the last major religion to evolve in the Indian subcontinent as well as in the world. This is the only major religion to come into existence after the industrial revolution. Therefore, it is the only major religion of the modern age. The message of Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, is for the enlightenment, unity, prosperity, and emancipation of the whole mankind.

We sincerely hope that America will come to grips with its multicultural reality and start considering diversity as its biggest asset rather than a liability. We also wish that we would review the issue of turban in the context of multiculturalism and the larger good of the Society. We should reconsider the concept of “Melting pot” and move towards the concept of a “Mosaic.”

[Sawraj Singh M.D. F.I.C.S. Chairman, Washington State Network for Human Rights,3910 Thrall Road, Ellensburg, WA 98926,USA]

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An encounter with an intrepid journalist
Gobind Thukral

IN the annals of Indian journalism, there are many legends. Sham Lal was a philosopher editor whose columns shall ever remain relevant. He touched upon various facets of life. He introduced Indian journalism to a very lively and witty style of writing and at the same time exposed the readers to universal currents of thoughts and creativity. In his collection of his essays[ that appeared in newspapers during sixties to nineties] under two titles, A Hundred Encounters and Indian Realities in Bits an Pieces  offer  a scrutiny of the very best creative voices in the last century, especially in the post-World War II era.

There are many more and one of them is Surendra Nihal Singh. He has edited creatively, The Statesman and The Indian Express and later The Khaleej Times. Here is a small encounter with him.

We, some 25 journalists were part of the Indian delegation for the 6th regional conference from August 18 to 20, 2007 in Colombo. The   conference was organised by South Asia Free Media Association [SAFMA] to promote peace and alleviate the poor. After two packed days in Colombo, about 200 journalists went for a sojourn to Tangerine beach at Kalutara, 40 kms south of Colombo.

The dancing waves of the grand Indian Ocean were too enchanting and enticing for anyone to leave the beach. But for 78 year old Surendra Nihal Singh, it meant to discover the real soul of Sri Lanka that lives in villages, its rural habitat. As everyone relaxed after frothy glasses of beer and sumptuous lunch, the old reporter’s instincts to know and understand more pushed this veteran to the rural Sri Lanka. He hired an auto rickshaw and was soon visiting villages with his notebook and a camera. “I was keen to know how people in villages, in small helmets lived and what kind of social and economic activity they were involved in.” he said as he set for his self chosen assignment.

And, on return he stated, “I thought the small hamlets I visited, apart from going through the forest and looking at the Kalu River, was that the civil war was far from the placidity I found. I visited two local homes, which were impressive by Indian standards for people of a similar scale. They were pucca houses and the womenfolk I saw seemed quite contented.”

As other colleagues who roamed the nearby areas found that most people had reasonably good dwellings made of bricks and cement. Clean and neat and whatever they had seemed to make them happy and satisfied. That insatiable hunger and greed of the urban India was missing.  Some had government jobs like teachers in schools and others did odd jobs like plying auto rickshaws and work in hotels and restaurants.

Mr. Nihal Singh calls his trip cursory, yet the one that provided some insight. He adds, “My auto rickshaw driver had images of both the Buddha and a Hindu goddess on his windscreen. Although he cheated me, he was a happy go lucky soul, loquacious and happy to be doing what he was. His son studies in the local school and his sister-in-law is a school teacher. They live in different parts of the hamlet. I know this is not much to go on, but mine was a very brief cursory trip.”

The auto rickshaw driver took the intrepid reporter to his own and relatives house to make him know more and offered typical Sri Lankan tea. And was glad that instead of Rs 1500 agreed for a three hour trip he got Rs 2,000.  “The effort and cost was worth it as the first hand experience and meeting these common Sri Lankan   is going to be with me for long time to come”. Indeed for this old reporter beat the younger lot who either had their afternoon siesta or just a stroll on the beach or went to town to purchase tea, gems or garm masala?

Mr S. Nihal Singh has written several books including Blood and Sand and My India. He was a senior associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in New York and Project Director of New York's Twentieth Century Fund in Paris on UNESCO. He won the International Editor of the Year award of the Atlas Press Service in New York for his role as editor during India's Emergency during 1975-77. His other books include ‘The Yogi and the Bear' on Indo-Soviet relations, 'The Rise and Fall of Unesco' and 'The Rocky Road of Indian Democracy'. These books are a veritable feast for the mind.

Read his informed and well written columns in the Asian Age and The Tribune.

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Concern over journalist’s safety in Sri Lanka

THE Committee to Protect Journalists has said it is alarmed by grave threats made against veteran Sri Lankan journalist Iqbal Athas. In a letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the CPJ said Athas has come under extraordinary pressure following his investigations into irregularities surrounding a 2006 deal to purchase MiG-27 fighter jets from Ukraine.

Athas told CPJ that his security detail was abruptly withdrawn by the Government two weeks ago, after publication of an article about the deal.

He said he had been harassed and followed by unknown people since then, and that he now feared for his life and for the safety of his family.

The CPJ therefore, called on the Government to act immediately to ensure the safety of Athas, a well-known defence columnist for The Sunday Times and frequent contributor to international media outlets such as CNN, Jane’s Defence Weekly, and The Times of London. Mr. Athas received the CPJ’s International Press Freedom Award in 1994.

On August 12, he wrote a detailed investigative report in his regular Sunday Times column about the Ukrainian government’s own inquiry into the arms deal. The headline read:”MiGs loaded with millions in mega frauds; The Sunday Times investigation reveals shocking double-deals and wheeler-dealings. While Lanka remains hush-hush, Ukraine Government orders full probe.”

The Sinhala-language newspaper Lankadeepa, published by the same newspaper group, carried a translated version of the article on August 14.

The next day, the personal security details attached to Mr. Athas was abruptly withdrawn. The Government had provided Mr. Athas with a security detail since April 2005, when it received credible intelligence reports that he may be targeted by members of the LTTE.

Mr. Athas knew well the dangers he might face for reporting on these issues, but proceeded because of his concerns that such dealings could undermine Sri Lanka’s security. “Those dabbling in millions of dollars or billions of rupees in military procurements [tend to] get away in this paradise isle,” Athas wrote in his August 12 column.

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