The Chairman,
Press Council of India,
Faridkot House, Ground Floor,
Copernicus Marg,
New Delhi - 110001

Dear Sir

Journalists in Kerala are increasingly becoming the targets of police, politicians and the mafia. Ever since the present Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) came to power, there were several instances of journalists being denied access to their sources, police harassment for anti-government reports and false cases being made out. The anti-media move began with Speaker Vakkom Purushotaman banning television cameras from recording the Assembly proceedings and imposing new restrictions as Chief Minister AK Antony regularly complains the media of not being objective in their reports..

In the latest episode, mediapersons were at the receiving end at Muthanga where tribal leader CK Janu was leading an agitation demanding the government to honour a 2001 agreement for distribution of lands to the landless tribals.

Kairali TV cameraman Shaji Pattanam was severely beaten up, his camera destroyed, all his money taken away and driven, along with other media persons, out of the scene where the police outraged the tribal women and children. The officers threatened to kill him if he shoots the firing. He had to spend many days in hospital. Goons of the politicians and the police continued to threaten journalists with dire consequences on the premises of the police stations where the tribal leaders were interrogated, at the court where they were produced and at the jail they were lodged in.

Journalists continue to be denied permission to speak to the arrested tribal leaders even after 16 days in custody, denying people their right to learn the other side of the story. The Kerala government continues to restrict movement of journalists forcing them to rely on the official versions alone.

When veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar took up the issue with Antony, no promises were made to control his police or look into the matter and repeated his allegation that the media reports were not objective.

The local police have now registered a case against Asianet reporter MK Ramdas, a member of Kerala Journalists Union, listing him as one of the ‘conspirators’ in the ‘armed revolt’ that could end him up in jail and the Crime Branch of the police have launched a manhunt for him.

We request you to take immediate steps to ensure freedom of the press in the state and to seek a report from the chief minister using the powers of the Press Council of India as a quasi-judicial body.

Expecting a speedy action,

 

Yours truly,

 

G Prabhakaran,
Working President,
Kerala Journalists Union