National News

ISLAMABAD, (MILLAT+APP): The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) while strongly condemning the attacks and
restrictions on media reporting in Jammu and Kashmir has expressed
solidarity with the journalists in the conflict-ridden territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service (KMS), this was said in a
resolution adopted at a meeting of the International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) held in Kathmandu, Nepal.
After a PowerPoint presentation on the `Media Scene in
Kashmir’ by a Kashmiri journalist, Faisul Yaseen, who could not
attend the meeting in person, journalists from around the world,
who attended the meeting, condemned the attacks on Kashmir media
and passed a resolution on Kashmir.
We condemn the restrictions on the use of internet and
mobile phones in the conflict-affected Kashmir valley, which
affects newsgathering and dissemination,” said the resolution,
which also urgently called for peace and regretted the firings by
police, troops and paramilitary forces on unarmed people,
including the use of pellet guns that have blinded many civilians,
including children.
Journalists and union activists from 14 countries
participated in the meeting organized by the IFJ together with the
South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) and South East Asia
Journalist Unions (SEAJU) with representatives from Afghanistan,
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Vanuatu.
IFJ also condemned the arbitrary ban imposed by the puppet
regime on the publication of the English daily Kashmir Reader.
On India, the IFJ demanded, “The immediate enactment of a
Journalists’ Protection Act at the national level and other
mechanisms to address the suffering of families of slain and
attacked journalists. The impunity of perpetrators, which has a
devastating effect on press freedom in India must end forthwith.”
During the meeting `Forging strategies for media change in
the Asia-Pacific’, the journalist unions from across the Asia-
Pacific resolved to share knowledge, utilize new technologies, and
strengthen membership to effectively continue their struggle for
press freedom and journalists’ rights, at the IFJ Strategy Forum
in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Representatives from the International Labor Organization
(ILO) and Twitter shared knowledge and skills to effectively use
social media in union works, combat online harassment and remain
safe in the digital space.
Together, leaders and activists discussed strategies to
enhance press freedom, union strengthening, and adapting digital
tools in union work as well as campaigning on freedom of
expression in the internet and fighting impunity using new media.
Resolutions were passed demanding journalists’ rights, gender
equity, press freedom, and end to impunity.