Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Kabul (BNA) The World Press Freedom Day celebrated in Afghanistan while the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan follows freedom of speech and progressive press as a main principal and remains committed to support it as before.
BNA political analyst commenting on the issue writes, yesterday was World Press Day and Afghan journalists marking and evaluating the situation of press and media in their country while the citizens of the country and world community consider freedom of speech one of the tangible achievements of Afghanistan during the last 15 years.
Presently there are about 50 TV networks in Afghanistan, more than that figure radio stations operating and hundreds of leaflets released. This indicates that press and freedom of speech has been following as a major program of Afghan governments of Afghanistan. The process has supported with great patient by the authorities and their commitments to free and progressive press is in place both in policy and in action of Afghan government.
Expansion of press and media in communities take place based on social, economic, and political requirements of the societies. The remarkable growth of press and media in Afghanistan is also a response to those needs and requirements.
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for further growth of freedom of speech and expansion of free press has adopted effective measures and programs. Endorsement of the law of access to press is a part of the state measures in support of media. In addition, establishing the procedure for safety and security of journalists and implementing the law for establishing private media are the most significant and valuable work of National Unity Government in support of press, Freedom of speech and media staffs.
Although, the state deals media with patience and creates every facilities for media members now it depends to media how to use this favorable circumstance in better serving people and informing them about their rights and obligations in the society. The problem is certain media forget their mission and obligations against people. Even they deal politically and ethnically which brings the activities of media under question. This demonstrate that some media have no a specific definition from national identify and national values. We can only honor for freedom of speech and free media when all media have the same definition from national unity and social solidarity and avoid publication and broadcasting issues that harm national values and public spirit. We can reach this human goal to act according the law and have a specific definition from our own mission, our identity, and national interests. It should mention that even though, freedom of speech created many facilities for people and met social benefits, the armed oppositions, terrorist groups and certain domestic and foreign sources used media as a means for obtaining their illegal and evil goals.
Although, the Afghan government patiently follows the freedom of speech and the progress of press and media, there are also certain barriers and problems on the way of freedom of speech. Taliban are a potential threat against media. This barbaric and ignorant group, in a suicide attack killed seven staffs of MOBY group, harassed, and harmed the staff of media in other province. These evidences indicate that the terrorists know nothing about freedom of speech and national interests. They are still a great threat to media staffs in some parts of the country. In spite of that Islamic Republic of Afghanistan working precisely and consciously for strengthening freedom of speech but still insecurity and economic restrictions are the main barriers on the way of growth and progress of press and media in the country.
