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Saturday, October 31, 2020

The Kashmir journalists 'harassed' and 'questioned' for doing their job

 

Auqib JaveedIMAGE COPYRIGHTSAJID RAINA
image captionAuqib Javeed

Journalism has become especially risky in Indian-administered Kashmir since the federal government stripped the region of its special status in August last year.

That seemed evident this week when India's top anti-terror agency searched the offices of the Greater Kashmir newspaper and the home of AFP journalist Parvaiz Bukhari.

In all, India's national investigative agency searched nine locations, including NGOs and homes of leading activists, in Srinagar city, the region's capital. It said the raids were based on "credible information" that these organisations and people were receiving funds from abroad that were allegedly being used to support "secessionist and separatist activities".

But critics say what's worrying is that the raids come amid a larger crackdown on free speech and dissent in the valley. In the past year, at least 18 reporters have been questioned by police and more than a dozen were allegedly assaulted.

Five journalists tell the BBC their stories.

Auqib Javeed, 28

Auqib Javeed was summoned to Srinagar's cyber police station in September.

He says the police wanted him to change the photo and headline in a recent story he had reported for the news website, Article 14. It was about how dozens of Kashmiri Twitter users had gone silent after being questioned by police for their posts on Article 370 - the constitutional provision guaranteeing Kashmir its special status that the Indian government revoked.

Mr Javeed says the police accused him of using an incorrect image of the station in the story. He said he felt like he was a "hostage" and a masked policeman slapped him.

The police in a statement said these allegations were "misleading and factually incorrect". They also said in a statement that the headline, the image and some aspects of the story were also "factually incorrect" and "misleading".

Mr Javeed says he eventually called his editor and asked for the changes. The original headline, The real cyber bully: Police in Kashmir question Twitter users, was changed to Police question Kashmir Twitter users for "anti-government' posts". Article 14 also carried an apology for using the wrong photo of the station.

"If it was just about the image, the police could have sent us a clarification and we would have changed it," Mr Javeed says.

"Whenever a journalist is harassed or beaten, nobody is held accountable. That's why journalists are being questioned very often now."

Peerzada Ashiq, 39

In April, police in Srinagar registered a complaint against Peerzada Ashiq, a journalist at The Hindu, a national daily.

At issue was a recent story in which Mr Ashiq had reported that the government had allowed the bodies of two alleged militants to be exhumed by their families. The men had died in a gunfight with security forces but they were buried in unmarked graves. Officials said they would not hand over the bodies to prevent large funerals that could aggravate the pandemic.

Peerzada AshiqIMAGE COPYRIGHTMUKHTAR ZAHOOR
image captionPeerzada Ashiq

But one of the men's relatives told Mr Ashiq that they had been granted permission to exhume the bodies for last rites. Mr Ashiq says he had a copy of the family's application, but officials did not respond to his queries.

When the story was published, police said it was "fake news" that "could cause fear or alarm in the minds of public". They also accused Mr Ashiq of publishing it "without seeking confirmation from the district authorities", although the story did say that officials had not responded to requests for a comment.

The Hindu later issued a clarification, explaining that the families had misunderstood permission to visit the graves as sanction to exhume the bodies.

But by then Mr Ashiq had been summoned twice to a police station - one in Srinagar and one in Anantnag, 60km (37 miles) from his home.

The questions were relentless and intimidating, he recalls. The second visit was also much longer.

"They asked me the same questions repeatedly. It was around 10:30pm when they let me go," he said.

He said that authorities could have rung or emailed, asking for a correction. "But it seemed that they wanted to turn the process into a punishment."

He says the case against him is still open.

"They say my name isn't mentioned but they're not closing the case, which means they can summon me whenever they want."

Anuradha Bhasin, 52

On 19 October, authorities sealed the Srinagar office of Kashmir Times, a local newspaper, where Anuradha Bhasin is executive editor.

Ms Bhasin says she was given no reason for the eviction and that it was done with no prior notice. She alleges that it is an "intimidation" tactic.

The paper's offices in the neighbouring region of Jammu are still open, but staff in Srinagar have been working from home because their office has been closed by athorities.

Anuradha Bhasin
image captionAnuradha Bhasin

Officials did not respond to the BBC's request for a comment.

But the Editors Guild of India said in a statement that the move had "disturbing implications" for media in the valley. And Ms Bhasin herself believes the sealing of the office is a "vendetta" for speaking out.

In 2019, she had petitioned the Supreme Court, challenging the communication blockade in the valley - landlines, mobile internet and social media were suspended, severely restricting media coverage.

"The day after I went to court, government advertisements in the newspaper were stopped by authorities," she said. "They want to control the narrative."

Fahad Shah, 30

Fahad Shah was questioned by the police after he reported on a gunfight between militants and security forces that destroyed many homes in Srinagar in May.

Mr Shah is the founder and editor of The Kashmir Walla, a weekly magazine and website.

At least 15 houses were destroyed, according to his report. And in a video the site published, locals accused police of stealing their jewellery.

Fahad ShahIMAGE COPYRIGHTMUKHTAR ZAHOOR
image captionFahad Shah

Mr Shah says within days, the police accused him of "defaming" them.

"When the gunfight happened, all lines of communication were suspended. How could we contact the police? And even if police had responded to the allegations, we would have published it."

A few weeks later, he was summoned to another police station and questioned again. This time, he said, the complaint accused him of "fake news and inciting violence".

Earlier this month, Mr Shah was again detained for four hours. He says he does not know why.

The BBC reached out to the police, but there was no response.

"Getting called, harassed and questioned is not surprising anymore - it is slowly becoming the norm," Mr Shah said.

Masrat Zahra, 26

"Nobody dares to speak now. I personally know many people who have quit journalism because they [police] have created such an atmosphere among the fraternity," says Masrat Zahra, a photojournalist.

Masrat ZahraIMAGE COPYRIGHTMUKHTAR ZAHOOR
image captionMasrat Zahra

In April, police registered a complaint against her under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act or UAPA - she is accused of "uploading anti-national posts with criminal intention".

The post in question was an image on Instagram from 2018. It was from a religious procession and showed mourners holding up a poster of Burhan Wani, a militant who had died two years before.

Wani's death sparked widespread protests in the region. The 22-year-old had the support of many locals who were protesting Indian rule in the valley and his death in a gunfight with Indian security forces made many consider him a martyr for the cause.

It's unclear why the post led to a case against Ms Masrat years later. She has not been arrested yet but the case is still open. "I have this threat in my mind that they can detain me anytime," she says.

"I think, through me, they want to send a message to the journalist community - that we have not spared a girl, so it can be done to anyone."

US election 2020: The Asians who are rooting for Trump to win

 

A Trump-themed bar in VietnamIMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
image captionDonald Trump is so popular that in Vietnam, they even named a bar after him

Donald Trump is not a US president who has courted international support.

Pursung an openly nationalist "America First" policy, he has overtly insulted half the world - from calling Europe's leaders weak to describing Mexicans as rapists, and even dismissing the entire African continent.

But for some in south-east Asia, a shared enemy in China means they are willing to still throw their support behind him.

Hong Kong: 'Only Trump can hit the Communist Party'

Hong Kong has seen a severe clampdown by Beijing in the wake of massive pro-democracy and anti-China protests. A new security law has been brought in to punish anyone seen as secessionist or undermining Beijing's rule.

"When Donald Trump got elected four years ago, I thought the US had gone crazy," Erica Yuen tells the BBC. "I'd always been a supporter of the Democrats. Now though, I support Trump - along with a lot of the Hong Kong protesters."

The activist and businesswoman says that the priority for Hong Kong is to get a US president who will "hit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hard - that's the only thing that Hong Kong protesters hope for".

These hopes have been fuelled by the US president's vocal criticisms of China, particularly with regard to Hong Kong.

Under his tenure, Congress has passed a law revoking Hong Kong's special status, which gave the country preferential economic treatment because they said Hong Kong was no longer "autonomous". Sanctions were also imposed on Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam and 10 other top officials from Hong Kong and mainland China.

Mr Trump's opponent Joe Biden has also vowed to "punish" China for its actions against Hong Kong, and has famously referred to China's leader Xi Jinping as a "thug".

But for Ms Yuen, what makes the difference is that the current administration has been "the first to make up its mind that the CCP is a harm to the world".

"I don't know why the Obama and Clinton administrations didn't realise that. They were too naïve and thought the CCP would chose a democratic path and become a modern society. But that was proven to be not true."

Protester throwing brickIMAGE COPYRIGHTEPA
image captionHong Kong has seen waves of unrest over the past years

She is aware that Hong Kong is vulnerable to any economic repercussions of a conflict between Washington and Beijing.

"You can't harm the CCP without harming Hong Kong," she says. "But we are ready for any short-term suffering, we are willing to sacrifice."

While she says a majority of activists - particularly young ones - share her views, opinion polls show that overall, Mr Trump gets quite mixed reviews in the country. In a recent survey, almost half of those polled gave him a "poor" rating, with many saying that Washington's handling of the coronavirus pandemic had impacted his reputation.

Taiwan: 'A big brother we can rely on'

Tensions have been on the rise between China and the island of Taiwan. The two were divided during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijng insists the island will be reclaimed at some point, by force if necessary. Washington says any resolution of their long separation must be done peacefully.

The trade tariffs and sanctions have also impressed some in Taiwan.

"Donald Trump's attitude is good for us and it's good to have such an ally. It gives us more confidence in terms of foreign affairs - militarily and trade," Victor Lin, who works in e-commerce, told the BBC from Taiwan. "We have a big brother we can rely on."

Mr Trump has certainly extended his outreach toward Taiwan. Over the past few months, the two governments have made major steps towards finalizing a bilateral trade deal.

Such a trade deal with the US would allow Taiwan to move away from its heavy reliance on China, believes Mr Linh - possibly going as far as to "actively invite Taiwan's big companies to set up factories in the US".

He worries that Mr Biden may not take steps that are "this provocative" in the face of Beijing's wrath. Mr Biden has traditionally been known as a supporter of engaging with China. Although he has changed his stance on this more recently, it has not reached the ears of the many Taiwanese who fear a Chinese "invasion" may be imminent.

Tank man balloon in TaipeiIMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionIn 2019, a balloon 'tank man' in Taiwan marked the Tiananmen crackdown anniversary

Mr Trump's actions to support Taiwan militarily have also bolstered support for him there. In fact, a recent poll showed that Taiwan is the only country where those that want another four years of Mr Trump strongly outnumber those who want Mr Biden to win.

Beijing has reacted strongly, warning the US "not to send any wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' elements to avoid severe damage to China-US relations".

Vietnam: 'Brave to the point of recklessness'

Both Washington and Beijing have fought wars on Vietnamese soil in the last 50 years, but while the US has largely been forgiven, the south-east Asian country remains fearful of the "China threat".

Vietnam's Trump supporters fall into two groups, according to journalist and vlogger Linh Nguyen.

Those who like him simply for the entertainment and glamour, and those who are "die hard Trump-supporters" and follow US politics because they believe - like many in Hong Kong and Taiwan - he is the only bulwark against the Communist governments both in China and Vietnam.

Neither Mr Trump or Mr Biden have spelled out a Vietnam strategy, and Mr Trump has made it very clear that he will not rush to intervene in the conflicts and disputes of other countries.

Yet some like political activist Nguyen Vinh Huu believe that only someone like Trump "who is brave to the point of recklessness and even aggression" can actually make a difference.

Donald Trump with Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan PhucIMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
image captionDonald Trump all smiles with Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

"And that's what sets him apart from his predecessors. Dealing with China requires such people."

When Donald Trump came to power, Mr Vinh said he felt the world would finally "wake up to the dangers of China" and "its new form of communist state capitalism".

But then there's also the desire for economic and political reform within Vietnam, away from communist one-party rule.

Personally, he hopes a strong US stance against the CCP might have a ripple effect across the entire region - eventually reaching Hanoi.

Japan: 'It's about our national security'

Japan has long been considered a valuable partner and ally to the US, but when Mr Trump was elected many people were nervous about the impact of his America-first policy on relations. He axed a multilateral trans-Pacific trade deal soon after taking office and insists Japan must pay more money to support US troops stationed there.

"Donald Trump is our ally. For Japan, the biggest reason we support him is national security," says Yoko Ishii, a YouTuber who vlogs under the name Random Yoko.

She points to the frequent intrusions of Chinese military planes and ships into Japanese airspace and waters. Much of these centre around the disputed Senkaku Islands, claimed both by Tokyo and Beijing - which calls them the Diaoyu Islands.

"We really want a leader from the US that can fight China aggressively," she says, adding "I don't think anybody can be that outspoken and have such strong presence - it really has to be Donald Trump".

Vlogger Yoko IshiiIMAGE COPYRIGHTANDREAS ILLMER
image captionMs Ishii leaves little doubt over her love for the incumbent

Ms Ishii sees Japan in a quasi-alliance with other Asian nations and territories who would look to the US for support against Beijing.

But despite her enthusiastic support for Trump to remain in the White House, vocal supporters like her are in a minority in Japan. While in general, a positive view on the US is shared by a majority, only a quarter of Japanese have confidence in President Trump.

Unlike some of their Asian neighbours, many hope Mr Biden, who is seen as someone who will engage with his allies in a way that Mr Trump did not, will re-enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership process and engage more closely with Tokyo, both economically and militarily.

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