A18 nationalpost.com NATIONAL POST, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008 Samad and McElhone: ‘The media is a key part of the young democracy, struggling to take hold.’ ISSUES& Covering Afghanistan K HORSHIED S AMAD logs and publications that AND J ANE M C E LHONE cannot differentiate between lawless freedom and journal- istic ethics. Yet, regardless BC journalist Mellissa of the current environment, C Fung’s kidnapping ordeal the power of media remains is a harrowing visible example strong and is a vital part of of the ongoing challenges fa- the young Afghan democracy, cing foreign journalists cover- struggling to take hold. And, ing Afghanistan. What is less there are shining examples. well known is that Afghan Later this month the inter- journalists are fighting their nationally renowned Com- own daily battles to survive. mittee to Protect Journal- Despite unprecedented ists in New York will honour gains in media independ- Afghanistan’s first independ- ence over the past seven ent news agency, Pajhwok years, the war-torn country Afghan News, with its pres- remains a battleground with tigious International Press an uncertain future for local Freedom Award, in recogni- journalists. They are threat- tion of the agency’s efforts ened by the Taliban and their to tell Afghans’ stories in the terrorist associates, but also face of ongoing conflict. It is by warlords, drug traffickers these local journalists, and and increasing levels of inter- the stories they uncover, that ference from anti-democratic serve as the foundation and forces. Twelve of them have inspiration for news that is been killed over the past four heard around the world. years, including two women Sadly, much of the news journalists. Although it is not heightens concerns about always easy to determine the women’s rights and safety, exact cause of their deaths, illustrated all too horribly the attacks deal a consist- by the recent acid attack on ent and chilling blow to the young Afghan girls on their media and freedom of expres- way to school in Kandahar sion. Other journalists have province. That chilling inci- been detained, beaten and dent vividly illustrates the in- forced to leave the country to tegral role media plays in em- STEVE BOSCH / VANCOUVER SUN save their lives. powering Afghan women and Tara Singh Hayer at his desk at the Indo-Canadian Times office in Surrey, B.C. Today is the 10th anniversary of his murder. Most recently, a young girls, by telling their stories journalist was sentenced to and helping to ensure they 20 years in jail, downgraded from a death sentence, for Tara Singh Hayer was a fearless enemy of radicalism in the what is alleged to have been a religiously provocative article The country Sikh community. Ten years ago, he paid the ultimate price about women’s rights. Free speech groups from around remains a the world have been unified in their condemnation of this battleground, unfair verdict which, accord- ing to the Afghan Independ- with an uncertain ent Journalists Association, future for violates the very concepts of freedom of expression and local media freedom of the media that are ATRUE MARTYR upheld by the Afghan Consti- tution. This case is currently are not, once again, silenced awaiting a hearing before the or forgotten. subsequently be tried (and issue facing his community, if diaspora firebrands con- Afghan Supreme Court; due As in civil society and pol- acquitted) for the Flight 182 he was utterly fearless. De- tinue to bang on about it. to the intense international itics, dramatic efforts have bombing. According to Hay- spite numerous death threats, Could Hayer’s assassina- focus, he may get a reprieve. been made to encourage er’s Oct. 15, 1998 statement to including open calls for his tion have been prevented? In Ever since the repressive women’s participation in the RCMP, Bagri and Purew- murder on Punjabi radio, Loss of Faith , Bolan suggests Taliban regime was driven media. As a result, hundreds al recused themselves to a Hayer kept pumping out the answer may be yes. Fol- from power in 2001, there of Afghan women currently nearby cubicle for a private articles attacking Khalistani lowing the first attempt on has been dynamic growth in work in journalism and com- discussion — but spoke loud Sikhs. How many journalists his life, the RCMP ignored Afghan media. There are now munications. And they are enough for others to hear: in this country, or any coun- or bungled the numerous an estimated 600 print pub- all protected, in principle at “Bagri stayed talking to try, would have the guts to do clues suggesting the hit was lications, at least 100 radio least, by Afghanistan’s 2004 J ONATHAN K AY Purewal for about one hour this — even before they’d been part of a larger conspiracy. stations and 16 TV stations, constitution, which defines during which time the sub- rendered paraplegic by two Moreover, Bolan notes dark- as well as a concerted effort women as equal citizens and ject of the Air India Flight 182 rounds from a .357? ly, penetrating radical Sikh to promote media independ- ensures they are once again oday marks the 10th an- bombing came up. Purewal Ten years later, Hayer’s organizations brought the ence. A recently passed being seen, heard and read niversary of the first as- asked Bagri how he managed memory has been preserved police up “against powerful media law has helped, at least about in the media. sassination of a journal- to do that. Bagri replied that — at least among journalists people with connections to in principle, to promote the It is only by respecting the ist in Canadian history. they (the Babbar Khalsa [sep- and his fellow Sikh Canad- the highest political levels in development of a healthier rights of all Afghan citizens I hope my colleagues aratist group]) wanted the ians. Vancouver Sun repor- Canada.” media sector. that Afghanistan can become Tremember the victim’s name. government of India to come ter Kim Bolan (who herself What Bolan means is that But these strides forward a legitimate, sovereign na- Tara Singh Hayer deserves on their knees and give them has received numerous death Hayer wasn’t just a stick in the are under increasing threat tion. It is only by giving full to be remembered alongside Khalistan.” threats for her outstanding craw of Canada’s radical Sikhs, from anti-democratic ele- voice to all of its citizens, such famous martyrs to their Had Hayer been able to coverage of Flight 182 and its but also the slew of cynical ments who have once again without threatening repris- craft as Daniel Pearl and Anna testify at the Air India crim- aftermath) laid the facts out politicians who rubbed elbows claimed a foothold in the Af- als, that it can have long-last- Politkovskaya. inal trial, the infamous 2005 about Hayer in chapters six with all factions of the Sikh ghan parliament and govern- ing peace. Afghan media and Hayer was the publisher result might have been dif- and seven of her definitive community in the sleazy game ment, and from the growing journalists are crucial to this of the Indo-Canadian Times , of ethnopolitics. In December, insecurity linked to Taliban progress. a Punjabi weekly printed 1998, just a month after Hay- and al-Qaeda insurgents. The National Post in Surrey, B.C. An Indian- er’s funeral, none other than ongoing challenges facing the ❚ Khorshied Samad and Jane born Sikh, Hayer once em- prime minister Jean Chrétien establishment were recently McElhone co-curate the Voices braced the cause of Sikh Had Hayer been alive to testify at appeared at a fundraising din- illustrated when a suicide on the Rise: Afghan Women separatism — and even the ner attended by Ripudaman bomber fought his way into Making the News photojour- military struggle to liber- the Air India trial, the infamous Singh Malik and various other Afghanistan’s Ministry of In- nalism exhibition opening ate “Khalistan” from India. Flight 182 suspects. In recent formation and Culture last at the Canadian High Com- But he changed his mind in 2005 result might have been years, Liberal leadership con- month and blew himself up. mission in London on Nov. the 1980s, as he saw corrup- tenders have been encouraged The Taliban claimed respon- 26, 2008 (www.voicesonther- tion and terrorism infect the very different to make the rounds of the sibility for this attack on rule ise.org). Khorshied Samad movement. When Sikh sep- country’s less reputable Gurd- of law and information. is the former Kabul bureau aratists bombed Air India waras in search of warm bod- The increasing politiciza- chief and correspondent for Flight 182 in 1985, Hayer’s ferent. But on Nov. 18, 1998, 2005 book Loss of Faith . And ies to bring to conventions. tion of the media sector is Fox News, and is married to newspaper took sides against he was gunned down in his in 1999, Canadian Journalists Even as recently as 2007, B.C. another growing threat, as Afghanistan’s ambassador the militants. garage — this time fatally — for Free Expression named Premier Gordon Campbell, politicians and parliamentar- to Canada. Based in London, Three years later, a man thereby rendering his state- their Press Freedom Award Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts ians with little understanding U.K., Jane McElhone is a Can- walked into his office and ment inadmissible. after the man. and assorted other politicians of freedom of the press, not adian journalist and inter- shot him twice at point-blank Purewal, another one-time At Sikh temples, where attended an openly Khalistani to mention warlords and the national media development range.