Harassment on journalists and bloggers up 106 percent in Bangladesh, says Article 19

An international organisation defending and promoting the freedom of expression has said harassments on journalists and bloggers by state actors have increased alarmingly in 2014.

In a report published on Sunday on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, Article 19 said 213 journalists and eight bloggers came under various forms of attacks last year.

According to the report titled ‘Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh-2014’, incidents of torture on newspersons and bloggers increased by 33.69 percent in the past year over the previous year.

The increase was 12.5 percent in 2013 over 2012.

Article 19 said in most of the cases, attacks were by ruling political party leaders and activists who were not brought to book.

Article 19 Director for Bangladesh and South Asia Tahmina Rahman presented the report at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.

She said, “Together, non-action for attacks, delays in investigation reaching chronic levels and the absence of convictions contributes to the continued culture of impunity in Bangladesh that is tragically becoming a harsh reality for journalists.”

“Opportunities for arbitrary use of the laws is promoting a culture of fear and resulting in shrinking space for online expression, tacitly forcing online activists, users, and bloggers to resort to self-censorship when expressing their opinions,” the report said.

The rights organisation suggested enforcement of an effective strategy and a set of policies for the protection of journalists.

It also recommended making the ICT Act and defamation and contempt of court laws consistent with international statutes on freedom of expression.

Attacks up by 106%

Rahman said an alarming 106 percent increase in harassment of newspersons happened in the past year over the previous year with the figure rising from 33 to 68.

She said 10 criminal cases were lodged against journalists in the year.

According to the report, 23 percent of the violations were carried out by the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Detective Branch of the police.

In 11 percent of the cases, the attacks were by public officials working outside law-enforcing agencies, it added.

The reports said 66.31 percent of attacks were carried out by non-state actors and 33.69 percent by leaders and ‘violent activists’ of the political party in power, who have emerged as a dominant force against the safety and security of journalists.

Rahman said Article 19 found no cases of perpetrators being convicted for violations in 2014.

Of the violations, investigations have been concluded only in five cases. In 27 percent of the cases, investigations are pending, while 70 percent remain beyond the reach of law.

Referring to journalists, Rahman said, in most of the cases they did not take any legal measures and in many cases they were pressed to make out-of-court settlement.

The report found ‘worrying patterns’ of insufficient legal action against attacks on journalists with no steps being taken in 56.55 percent of cases.

In most cases, victims did not even notify the police, while in the rest, no action was taken despite complaints.

Murders and tortures

Article 19 recorded 213 attacks -- 205 against journalists and eight against bloggers and online users -- in 2014.

Of them, four journalists – Shah Alam Molla, Sarkar Nipul, Delwar Hossain and GM Babar Ali – were killed

About Molla, Rahman said he died after falling from rooftop of the Uttara Model Police Station building on being attacked by police for exposing the ‘corruption’ by the Uttara Trust College principal.

“His relatives said police killed him by pushing him off the rooftop,” she said.

According to the report, 40 journalists were seriously injured and 62 came under minor assaults.

Of them, 24 were injured by robber bullets, rifles, batons, grenades and crude bombs.

Nineteen of the journalists injured in attacks were threatened with murder or attacks on family members.

The report said 17 bloggers and online users were arrested in 2014.

Thirteen media persons, including editors, publishers, office-bearers of journalists’ associations and a media executive, faced contempt proceedings in the year.

Among those arrested under the Information and Communications Technology Act 2006, eight were still in custody.

Gender discrimination

Rahman said women journalists continued to face work place hostility and gender harassment and discrimination when seeking leadership positions in press associations.

Referring to a case, she said five senior women journalists, working with a national daily, were removed without any prior notice.

They have not been paid their dues despite a court order in their favour.

Ambiguities in the law

The report said inconsistencies and ambiguities in the law created ample scope for it being used an instrument of harassment.

It highlighted the ambiguities in Article 57 of the ICT Act.

The law provides no guidelines regarding what is “hurtful to the image of the state or person” or “hurtful to religious sentiments” leaving it widely open for arbitrary application by law-enforcing agencies.

Suggestions

Rahman suggested official condemnation of any acts of infringement on freedom of expression, prompt and proper investigations into them, and trial of the perpetrators.

She said an effective strategy and a set of policies were needed to protect journalists.

She also recommended making the ICT Act and defamation and contempt of court laws consistent with international statutes on freedom of expression.