NEW DELHI: Ail eight newspapers published in the Kashmir Valley have Suspended publication for an indefinite period.
“The situation becomes more distressing since these are the first elections “in J&K since November 1989, and ‘the number of candidates contesting AS double that of the last Parliament poll.
In a circular issued on April 17, the Home Ministry has asked newspapers from the Valley not to report the ‘Speeches or carry any statements or interviews of any militant outfit or leader. Nor. the circular said. should _ they publish anything that would ham * per the election process in the Valley ~ threats to candidacies contesting the Lok Sabha elections, Government employees or the people at large, The newspapers are also not supposed to publish obituaries or reports relating to killed militants.
Any violation of this directive, the ‘Ministry warned the editors, would invite penal action. The directive has boon issued keeping the Lok Sabha elections in view.
‘The eight dailies which are published from Srinagar are: English dailies Greater Kashmir and Mirror of Kashmir, and Urdu newspapers Aftaah, Srinagar Times, Uqab, Mashriq, Al Safa News and Afaaq.
The editors of the newspapers met on April 18 to discuss the circular, which in their view amounted to an assault on the freedom of Press. Soon after the meeting ended, they received another directive. This ime, it was from the spokesperson of the hard fine pro Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen.
The Hizb condemned the Government circular and at the same time asked these newspapers not to pub: lish any statement from the Government. The ban also covered Government sponsored advertisements; The Organization threatened the editors, employees and workers with dire consequences, if they violated its order.
“This has left us with no option but to suspend our publications,” Mr. Bashir Manzar, Associate Editor of Greater Kashmir, who is currently in the Capital said. He is part of a three member committee of editors which has been authorized to decide the future course of action.
‘The press in Srinagar has always had to walk a fine line between the Government and the militants.
Vulnerable to the gun, they try to keep from annoying the militants, only to be branded antinational by the Government.
Now, the Government has put the press in a difficult situation with a directive that will certainly make them the target of militant firepower, Kashmiri journalists feel, Rather than risk their lives and those of their families. The press has decided to suspend publication, an unfortunate development considering thee important role the media plays during elections.
Many Kashmiri Muslim journalists have had to leave the State after near fatal attacks on them, most notably BBC correspondent Yusuf Jameel and veteran journalist Zafar Mehraj, both of whom were targets of government sponsored militants.
Agencies add from Srinagar: A former National Conference activist and Independent candidate from Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Shah, escaped an attempt on life in Kashmir where nine people, including four ultras and a security man, were killed in unabated violence since last Monday evening.
Article extracted from this publication >>May 1, 1996
