Tuesday May 1, 2018
Kabul (BNA) Fazil Sancharaki the Publication Deputy Minister of Information and Culture in interview with Bakhtar News Agency correspondent, congratulating World Press Freedom Day to media activists across the country talked about the achievements of the ministry during the last year.
The deputy minister of information and culture said that it is a matter of pleasure that Afghanistan position on freedom of speech ascended two steps by san de frontiers reporters this year because of establishing proper infrastructures, creating facilities for access to press and for assessing the cases of violence against journalists and other issues.
Mr. Sancharaki added, the national unity government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to freedom of speech and will carry all its efforts to fulfill its commitments in that regard to provide the ground for rapid, sound and transparent information to all compatriots and also taken effectives measures for supporting free media and the measures will be implemented very soon.
He said that the current free media and democracy in the country is based on enforced laws of in the country specially the constitution and mass media law.
Fortunately, during the last year, for improvement of media services and practicing free press in the community, providing facilities for access to information and press, the national unity government has taken effective and important steps.
Particularly, the mass media law amended and reviewed, and currently the law is in ministry of justice and waiting for ratification and endorsement of the cabinet of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
One of the other laws that were reviewed was the law of access to information that led to basic changes in the law.
Mr. Sancharaki added,” we have finalized the procedure of digitalizing pictorial media and sent it to the ministry of justice.” In addition to above mentioned activities, other measures have been adopted that facilitate access to press and provide better ground for media services.
He pointed out that in addition to above mentioned activities, the ministry of information and culture has carried out some other measures among them is facilitating the process of establishing media organs in the country. This is if someone wanted to establish a media center earlier he or she had to go through 65 phases now the process descended only to 5 phases. The registration of media takes place on line and now it is not necessary a media to go through the process both in provinces and in the capital.
The deputy minister of information and culture said that everybody from every part of the country through on line after fulfilling the relevant form can ask for establishing a media center, beside this for easily access to information, within an open state administration committee, we are committed to evaluate media centers or units in 60 state run administrations and know about their requirements and change them in to active, up to date and effective organs in order to respond to the demands of all citizens for information.
Also, there were on thousand cases of violence within the frame of joint government and media committee which were not investigated during the last 18 years, among them 700 cases determined to be investigated, among those 700 cases a number of them were not pursuable because of lapses of time and a number of them has processed via security and judicial organs and for a number of the case issued verdicts.
Mr. Sancharaki added , about 20 to 30 people arrested due to the cases, among them can mention the names of the men who had killed Sayed Hami Noory the active journalist. Drawing the cases to security, justice and judicial organs was one of important measures of national unity government because the cases were remained for many years without being investigated.
The publication deputy minister of information and culture said that within the framework of the joint committee a system has been established according of which any related journalists incidents or event occurs in any parts of the country without delay will be investigated and the results put at the disposal of people through media.
The security forces has the obligation a duty to have a proper security coverage on media, this is when the media faces threat and have grave security problem should try for their safety.
He added, as it is planned a team from joint committee to visit provinces to know about the problems of media there, find the ways of solution of the problems and to create an atmosphere of cooperation between local authorities and journalists aiming awareness of people.
Mr. Sancharaki said that fortunately we were succeeded last year to review the fund for supporting journalists and developed it will soon announce its existence.
The President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in a visit with media staffs promised to help the fund and encourage the foreign donors to assist the fund in order to be able to settle the financial problems of journalists, providing them with educational facilities, capacity building and the fund helps the families of journalists who have lost their lives or injured.
The deputy minister claimed that the ministry in close cooperation with media and security organs has prepared the procedure of how to cover the explosions and suicide incidents.
Mr. Sancharaki said that the activities and services mentioned above were the examples of what the ministry of information and culture performed during the last year.
He expressed hope to have more achievements in the New Year and to take firm and effective steps toward realization of free media and practical useful work in both state run media and private media.
Abdul Khalil Minawi
