The Hindu : Free flow of information not yet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 16, 2003

National

National

Free flow of information not yet

By K.K. Katyal

NEW DELHI NOV. 15. The prospects of a smooth flow of information in South Asia are unlikely to improve as a result of the recommendation of the SAARC Information Ministers to their Governments to "liberalise the visa regime" for journalists. The decision falls short of the demand for a free movement of mediapersons and media products in the region. It creates an illusion of relaxation without any material change from the current restrictive norms.

The decision of the Information Ministers' Conference is in the nature of a recommendation and is, in no way, mandatory. Even if it were to be accepted by the Governments, its implementation will continue to be the responsibility of the Home (Interior) and External Affairs Ministries which, as experience shows, are guided by the reports of their intelligence agencies. As a matter of fact, a measure of helplessness was evident during the Information Ministers' discussion. Since the final decision rested with the foreign offices it was better, so went the unanimous argument at the conference, to let them have the final say. This was a strange case of buck-passing. In the past, whenever the premier media organisation — South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) — sought the help of the foreign offices, it was told that the Information Ministers' Conference was the proper forum for consideration of this issue and that they be approached.

What the journalist community wanted was the recognition of the right to a free regime, as was the case with the members of Parliaments and judges of the Supreme Courts and High Courts. They do no require any visa and there is no restriction on their movement in the region. This is true even in the case of India and Pakistan which, for ordinary citizens, issue only city-specific visa, with the provision for daily reporting to the police station. The MPs (of India and Pakistan) have just to get the SAARC stickers (issued by the offices of their Parliaments) affixed on their passports to be able to go from one side to the other. They are free to cross the land border, while others are not allowed this facility. This restriction has now been eased in the case of persons above 65.

Mediapersons realised that they would not get this right. They, therefore, scaled down their demand to a realistic level — suggesting that those with 10-year recognised professional standing be given hassle-free five-year multi-entry visas. It was realised that, unlike MPs and judges, it was not easy to ensure that those claiming the right to be included in a well-defined category are genuine journalists. Hence the stipulation of 10 years' standing in recognised professional capacity.

The central issue is the right of mediapersons to a free regime. If that is recognised, it should not be difficult to formulate appropriate norms.

Similar problems were faced by the business community as well, because of the difficulties of ascertaining the credentials of those wanting to be included in a well-defined category (of trade and industry).

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