The Hindu : World press groups protest against Tamil Nadu Assembly action

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

National

National

World press groups protest against Tamil Nadu Assembly action

The World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum have asked the Government of the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu to respect India's "proud reputation as a bastion of free speech" following attempts to jail journalists there.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, the Paris-based WAN and the WEF said they were seriously concerned by the State Assembly's attempt to jail six journalists from The Hindu and the Murasoli dailies for criticising the State Government.

While the Indian Supreme Court blocked the arrests, and the State Government agreed to abide by the decision, WAN and the WEF asked the Chief Minister to "do everything in your power to ensure that in future the State of Tamil Nadu fully respects international standards of freedom of expression and that it takes no actions that would tarnish India's proud reputation as a bastion of free speech."

The letter said:

"We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100 countries, to express our serious concern at attempts by the State Assembly of Tamil Nadu to jail six journalists.

"According to reports, on 7 November the State Assembly of Tamil Nadu sentenced five journalists from The Hindu newspaper and the editor of the Tamil-language daily Murasoli to 15 days in jail for "breach of privilege" following the publication of criticism of your administration. The same evening, police searched the offices of The Hindu in Chennai but made no arrests, the journalists had apparently gone into hiding.

"The Hindu journalists were sentenced to jail in absentia after accusing the State Government of `rising intolerance towards political opponents'. The editor of Murasoli was given the same sentence for publishing a translation of The Hindu editorial.

"However, on 10 November the Supreme Court stayed the arrests, stating that `every institution, be it legislature, media or judiciary, has to respect other institutions' and that `none of the institutions should cross the fine line or be hyper-sensitive to harsh words of criticism.'

``While applauding the intervention of the Supreme Court to safeguard free speech and commending your administration for agreeing to be bound by its decision, we ask that you do everything in your power to ensure that in future the State of Tamil Nadu fully respects international standards of freedom of expression and that it takes no actions that would tarnish India's proud reputation as a bastion of free speech."

WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. Its membership includes 72 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 100 countries, 13 news agencies and nine regional and worldwide press groups.

The WEF is the division of WAN that represents senior news executives.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National