نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan Media Watch Report January 2019 Owner: Nai Monthly Report #164 Tahir Paiman Media Watch Reporter 0704464404 نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan Media Watch Report In this issue: • Assassination of a local journalist in Farah province by Taliban • The insult and arrestment of Ayna TV Journalist in Takhar province by police • Rocket attack on Neda-e-Subh Radio in Ghooriyan District of Herat province • Threaten up of two journalists in South zone by Taliban • Journalists’ insult by provincial authorities in Urozgan province • The concerns of the media and the Afghan Journalists Federation about the marginalization of media role in peace talks • Insult of Paiwaston Radio Head by security forces in Urozgan province • Armed attack on Hamisha Bahar Radio and TV in Nangarhar province • Nai; Freedom of expression and media have been forgotten in the peace talks • Article analysis of Access to Information Law نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan Summary Nai Media Watch Reports on cases of assassination, wound up, beaten up and abuse of journalists in the media sector in January 2019. In the early days of 2019, Afghan Media Community has lost one of its members. The vic- tim is Mr. Javed Noori, Neshat Local Radio Anchor in Farah province, who was shot died by Taliban on Saturday, January 5th 2019, when traveling with a group of thirty other passengers using public transportation. Mr. Noori worked diligently with Neshat Radio and was supposed to launch a weekly magazine in Farah as well. On another occasion, Saddam Hussain Bashash, the Ayna TV Journalist in the North- Eastern zone of the country was beaten up by police in Dasht-e-Qala District of Takhar province, and been arrested illegally for three hours as well. The reason behind his ar- restment and beaten up is that he tried to film the police’s harsh and rough behavior with the sellers beside the road. Moreover, the Neda-e-Subh Radio in Ghooriyan District of Herat province was targeted by a rocket attack. Unidentified persons had attacked on Ghooriyan Radio with a RPG rocket that destroyed some of the radio equipment but the radio transmitter was not damaged, radio broadcasts were temporarily stopped and started back. Mr. Jamshid Nekjo Azizi, proprietor of the Neda-e-Subh Radio said to Nai Media Watch that there wasn’t anyone while the rocket hit to the building but it had damaged radio assets. Furthermore, two journalists were threatened by the Taliban in Qandahar province. Abdullah Hamim, ToloNews Journalist and Javed Tanveer 1TV Journalist in South zone said to Nai Media Watch; at the very first they got the issue through their friends that Taliban want to assassinate them, whereas Qandahar Police warned them about the probable threats by terrorists; so that they could care of themselves. In addition to the aforementioned issues, some journalists of the private media outlets complain because of the practice of dual behavior of provincial authorities in Urozgan province. Moreover, on Sunday, 13th January 2019 journalists were invited by the pro- vincial officials to cover a program that was hosting governmental officials from Kabul. But it was about 30 minutes later that the deputy governor of Urozgan province an- nounced that except RTA (Radio and Television of Afghanistan) Journalist of other private media should leave the hall and they will not be allowed to cover the remaining portion of the program. Journalists of the private media were forced to leave the session and the concerned - 3 - Media Watch Report نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan journalists considered it an insult and abuse to them, and they had recorded their com- plaints at Nai Media Watch as well. Additionally, Paiwaston Radio Head in Urozgan claims that he has been insulted by local security forces that belong to the Garrison branch. Fazl Ahmad Basharmal, Paiwaston Radio Head in Trincott city of Urozgan has been insulted by the local security troops due misplaced parking of his car on Monday 31st December 2018. Local soldiers humiliated Mr. Basharmal among all and forced him to clean the soldier’s car due to misplaced parking of his car. Furthermore, in addition to the targeted attacks on media outlets, this time Hamisha Bahar Radio and Television has been targeted in Nangarhar province. Unidentified per- sons have attacked on this media, as result of the attack the antenna has been damaged and it faced lots of technical loss. Moreover, on the eve of peace talks with the Taliban group, Nai as a leading advocacy organization stated its concerns regarding victimization of media and freedom of- ex pression through a press conference and also Nai considered specific sorts of recom- mendations to government and negotiating parties. - 4 - Media Watch Report نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan A journalist was shot by Taliban in Farah province Javed Noori, Neshat Local Radio Anchor, was shot by Taliban when travelling with a group of 30 other passengers in public transportation. Hamidullah Hamidi, Neshat Local Radio proprietor in Farah said to Nai Media Watch that Mr. Javed Noori was killed by Taliban on Saturday on the way. Mr. Hamidi said that Javed Noori used to work with Neshat Radio in Farah and intended to launch a weekly magazine in the upcoming days in corporation with Mr. Noori. Taliban has proclaimed Mr. Noori’s assassination in a bulletin and considered him a “Foeman Agent”. At the meantime, Reuters has quoted Muhammad Shoaib Saabit, the Farah Governor’s words that Mr. Noori was not only a governmental employee but also he was busy in journalistic activities. Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar, Nai Managing Director condemns Mr. Noori’s assassination and asks Afghan Government to be accountable to Afghanistan journalistic Community in this regard and also asks Taliban to tell the reason behind civilians and journalists’ assassination. - 5 - Media Watch Report نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan Mr. Khalvatgar emphasized that Mr. Noori is the first victim of Afghan Journalistic Com- munity in 2019. 2018 was considered the bloodiest year which ended with the assassination of 20 jour- nalists and wound up of 20 other journalists and media workers. During the last year, Nai Media Watch recorded 200 violence cases against journalists. Based on the Nai’s annual report, 20 journalists and media activists were killed in 2018 and most of them were killed in the terroristic incidents. Ayna TV Journalist was beaten up and arrested temporarily by po- Saddam Hussainlice Bashash, in North-EasternAyna TV Journalist in North-Eastern zonezone was beaten up by police in Dasht-e-Qala District of Takhar province and arrested illegally for a couple of hours. Saddam Bashash said to Nai Media Watch on Wednesday, January 9th that, when he witnessed that the police misbehaved and abused the roadside sellers, he filmed the scene. Due to this police had beaten him up and abused him in front of all. Mr. Bashash said that he was beaten by police on the way from the Bazzar to the police district. Police insulted by use of abusive words as well. Despite, Mr. Bashash has shown his identifica- tion card but police have hit his card on his face and called him spy. Abdul Mujeeb Khalvat- gar, Nai Managing Direc- tor said; although the new appointed police head has promised that police’s performances - 6 - Media Watch Report نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan and behavior will change, so that it sounds good for national interest and beneficiary of people but still we witness that police violate the law and behaves unprofessionally with civilians. Nai Managing Director asks Interior Ministry to recognize those, who misbehaved and beaten up Mr. Saddam and introduce them to judicial procedures and also share the further details of the incident. Neda-e-Subh Radio was targeted by a rocket attack in Ghooriyan District of Herat province It was Wednesday, 26th January 2019, around 07:00 PM that unidentified persons had attacked on Neda-e-Subh Radio with a RPG rocket that destroyed some of the radio equipment but the radio transmitter was not damaged and radio broadcasts were tem- porarily stopped and started back. Jamshid Nekjo Azizi, Proprietor of Neda-e-Subh Ra- dio said to Nai Media Watch that there wasn’t anyone while the rocket struck to the building but it had damaged radio assets. Mr. Azizi also said; thus the incident we informed the Ghooriyan Police district and they came to observe the scene but still the security organs couldn’t have shared any update regarding the incident occurred yet although a week has been passed. - 7 - Media Watch Report نی حمایت کنندۀ رسانههای آزاد افغانستان Nai supporting open Media in Afghanistan According to Neda-e-Subh Radio official, specifically the target of the attack was Neda- e-Subh Radio, as there isn’t any other organization nearby the radio building, so that the terroristic groups may target that. The aggressors had tried and intended to hit the radio building and destroy all its assets and facilities. Mr. Azizi emphasized that before also we had been threatened by extremist groups and even have demoralized the officials at the radio. According to Mr. Azizi the Neda- e-Subh officials and employees have been threatened and warned through phone calls by unidentified people, thus the rocket attack and they have been threatened, by the continuity of their media activities, they will be targeted again.