Differentiating viewpoint from propaganda: quality media suffers
[TamilNet, Friday, 11 April 2008, 16:00 GMT]
The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr St=F8re, who addressed the
seminar on 'Freedom of Expression - Missing in Action?,' on Monday in
Oslo said: "We must learn to distinguish between expressions that seek
only to degrade, humiliate and dehumanise, and those that seek to
provide information and viewpoints - even though these may be painful,
troubling or controversial." Meanwhile, Oslo Dokumentarkino, the
distributor of the do***entary film "My Daughter the Terrorist," in a
press statement issued on Friday, charged that the Government of Sri
Lanka was trying to stop screening of the Norwegian do***entary film,
as Norwegian FM was announcing new strategy to defend freedom of
expression.
The award-winning Norwegian do***entary was made during the peace
times and released an year ago. It has been screened at several
international forums so far.
The Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka has issued a statement in which
it urges the "American State Department and the FBI to impose an
injunction on all screenings in the USA of the Norwegian Do***entary
film 'My Daughter the Terrorist'," accusing the that the film is 'a
distortion of exploitation of the freedom of speech guaranteed by the
First Amendment,' Olso Dokumentarkino said in a press statement issued
to media.
The statement made reference to Jonas Gahr St=F8re, the Norwegian
Foreign Minister, who held a lecture on the im****tance of Freedom of
Expression, particularly in conflict areas where media censor****p is
used to exert power, on Monday.
Extracts from the speech by Jonas Gahre follow:
Jonas Gahr St=F8re [Photo courtesy
"Today new anti-terrorist legislation and state secrecy laws are being
passed, and we are seeing increasing use of defamation laws and media
censor****p.
"Journalists are threatened, imprisoned or killed for criticising
their governments. Radio transmissions are jammed, newspapers and
books are confiscated, media laws make it difficult for journalists to
protect their sources, and licences are withdrawn.
"This is unacceptable. And again - we need to refocus the debate in
the relevant international settings.
"In his 2007 re****t, the UN Special Rap****teur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi
Ligabo, pointed out that threats to the safety and protection of
journalists remain one of the key obstacles to realising the right to
freedom of opinion and expression.
"The figures testify to the horrors experienced by journalists across
the globe.
"Last year, 86 journalists and 20 other media workers were killed.
This is a dramatic increase over the past five years and the highest
figure since 1994. A total of 1511 media professionals were physically
attacked, and 67 were kidnapped.
"The figures also show that armed conflict is by far the greatest
threat to the security of media professionals. Over half of the
journalists killed last year died in Iraq, and the vast majority of
them worked for local media.
"Eight journalists were killed in Somalia, and many others had to flee
the country. Journalists also lost their lives in others areas of
ongoing conflict, like Sri Lanka, the Democratic Republic of Congo and
Afghanistan.
"Our initiative to put a particular focus on the role of media in
conflict situations is a response to this dire situation. It is based
on the recognition that freedom of speech and of the media has a
decisive role to play in protecting human rights and strengthening
democracy.
"Why? Because firstly, when independent media function well,
politicians are held accountable. The media can set a spotlight on
intolerance and expose injustice and discrimination.
"Secondly, by telling the stories of struggle, pain and courage of
real people, the media can empower vulnerable and voiceless groups in
society.
"Thirdly, the confrontation of ideas, even controversial ones, and a
critical public debate are always a sign of a strong democracy. The
democratic role of the free media is to deepen our understanding,
broaden our perspectives and provide us with the information we need
to develop our own opinions.
"At the same time, we also know that media can spread hatred and
incite persecution and violence.
"We have only to recall the terrible example of Radio Mille Collines
in Rwanda in 1994, which systematically transmitted messages of hate
that directly fuelled the genocide. It created a false but extremely
effective notion of legitimacy that allowed the perpetrators to
condone their atrocities.
"So this too has to be part of our debate: We must learn to
distinguish between expressions that seek only to degrade, humiliate
and dehumanise, and those that seek to provide information and
viewpoints - even though these may be painful, troubling or
controversial. Finding the right balance is a daily responsibility of
the press and the editor.
"Power, of course, is an im****tant factor. Expressions of hatred are
targeted at vulnerable groups in society - the minorities, the
powerless. While legitimate dissent is aimed at the wielders of power.
"This, in my view, is one of the reasons why the recent increase in
the number and severity of defamation laws is a worrying trend.
Defamation laws tend to protect those already in power. Moreover, much
of what is viewed as defamation through the lens of these laws is in
fact legitimate dissent."
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