Dhaka Declaration on Media and Democracy

We, the media-persons from the print and electronic = media in=20 the countries of South Asia, Having met in Dhaka on May 25-26, 2003, at = the=20 Third South Asian Free Media Conference, and having deliberated on the=20 interdependence of democracy and media freedom, Recalling the = universally upheld=20 ideals of democracy and freedom of expression inscribed in the Universal = Declaration of Human Rights, the two covenants of 1966, other UN = instruments,=20 the UNESCO principles and the Johannesberg Principles on Media = Freedom,

Recalling and reaffirming the principles and = declarations=20 inspiring the Joint Statement issued after the First South Asian Free = Media=20 Conference in Islamabad in July 2000, and the Declaration adopted at the = Second=20 South Asian Free Media Conference at Kathmandu on January 1-2, 2002, = wherein=20 faith in peace, democracy, justice and well-being of the family of the = South=20 Asian peoples was inscribed as the basic inspiration for free media in = South=20 Asia,

Reaffirming once again our faith in the South Asian = people’s=20 right to democratic governance, Recognising the need of a democratic = order for=20 achieving the ideals of a free media in the region, Realising the = responsibility=20 of media-persons to struggle collectively and severally for the twin = objectives=20 of democracy and freedom of expression, Taking note of the uneven = transition of=20 South Asian nations to the contemporary ideals of participatory = democracy and=20 their peoples’ empowerment, criminalization of politics and = devaluation of=20 systems of justices, especially of the situation in :

Bangladesh, where further efforts are needed to = strengthen the=20 gains of the people’s heroic struggles for self determination and = democracy, and=20 the major political forces need to arrive at a closer understanding and=20 cooperation in order to ensure the basic rights of the people, = especially the=20 disadvantaged.

Bhutan, where despite the welcome initiative for a = new=20 constitutional set-up progress towards democratisation of the state and = the=20 society is both unclear and uncertain, and where the right to = citizenship and=20 the rights of the diverse communities forming the nation are subject to=20 arbitrary abridgment;

India, widely hailed as a secular democracy, has been = threatened by forces of communalism and religious bigotry. Regional and=20 sub-regional aspirations for devolution of powers have not been = adequately=20 addressed, resulting in frustrations and often also in the outbreak of = violence.=20 An established tradition of press freedom is being threatened by a = growing=20 criminalization of politics and abuse of judicial practice. These = factors weaken=20 India’s pluralistic civil society and by that token, sap the = foundations of=20 democracy itself

Nepal, where the disruption of the democratic system = is=20 threatening to erase the people’s rights secured through the = democratic=20 revolution of 1990, and creating obstacles to democratic resolution of = civil=20 strife and matters concerning the deprived communities

Pakistan, where the state’s return to the = democratic path has=20 again been thwarted and it is under a double squeeze by the forces of=20 authoritarianism and religious extremism that reinforce each other and = deny=20 pluralism and will have extremely grievous consequences to the = people’s right to=20 representative government and their basic freedoms;

Sri Lanka, where the suspension of hostilities and = the process=20 of negotiations have set the country on the road to peace, the prospects = for=20 consolidation of democratic institutions, pluralism and respect for = human rights=20 remain unclear; and

To uphold, collectively and individually, the system = of=20 multi-party, participatory democracy, wherein the rights of all sections = of each=20 country, especially the right to freedom of expression and dissent, the=20 principle of gender equality and the rights of minorities, are fully = respected;=20

to respect the demands of pluralism and social = justice in our=20 respective societies;

to strive for peace within and between nations of = South Asia=20 and secure the diversion of resources from wasteful acquisition of arms = to=20 public interest projects;

to eschew the use of language, terminology or tone = that=20 exacerbate differences between peoples;

to discourage hate-preaching, distortion of national=20 characters, xenophobia, cultural chauvinism, racism, casteism, and = exploitation=20 of the poor and the marginalised;

to resist authoritarianism and religious extremist in = any form=20 and promote the media’s function as the foremost school of good = citizenship;=20

to reject the demonisation of the "others" as an = instrument of=20 perpetuating conflicts;

to fight violence and terrorism as they undermine = both=20 democracy and freedom of the media;

to secure and enlarge the right to freedom of = information for=20 the media in particular and the people in general;

to promote regional media understanding and forums = that could=20 create space for themselves in the international context;

to foster professionalism and transparency in the = media;

to develop intra-state and inter-state solidarity = among=20 media-persons in resistance to intimidation and violence by = anti-democratic=20 interests;

to raise a bulwark against intra-media forces and = tendencies=20 that support or strengthen the vested interests’ assaults on = democracy and media=20 freedoms; and

to develop a system of consultation and cooperation = among=20 SAFMA’s national chapters and individual members for the removal = of doubts and=20 difficulties that may arise in the pursuit of objectives mentioned in = this=20 Declaration.

Source: www.southasianmedia.net

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR

Chief Executive Officer

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and = Communication

E-mail: bcnnrc@bd.drik.net