Afghanistan Election Eve: The Media Ban Starts

The ban of violence coverage for the Afghan election is underway.

The ban order of from the National Security Council given to news organizations by the Foreign Ministry in Afghanistan earlier Tuesday; it is imposed on the local and foreign press. By Wednesday law enforcement has started implementing the procedures to guarantee the blackout.

Atia Abawi of CNN is in Kabul has tweeted this, “A day before the Afg govt wants a ban of reporting violence by journalists. Journalists are being restricted, attacked and assaulted.”

Then she writes, “It's effecting both International and Local media. But the Afghan journalist continuously facing the brunt of the force.”

Pajhwok, an Afghan news agency has reported that a Foreign Minister spokesman said, any Afghan media violating order on election coverage will be shut down. Pahjwok has rejected the order.

“…we feel a professional obligation to inform our audience about specific threats that are documented and credible,” writes Pajhwok in their rejection statement.

With the attacks the Taliban has planned for Election Day, I am appalled at the fact that the Karzai government will use even one soldier, police officer or any other personnel to shut down a news organization instead of working on securing polling places.

Already there have been suicide bombings at polling places, killing many innocent Afghans. Militants have stormed police stations and a provincial council candidate has been gunned down.

This is the Karzai presidency, backed up by US and NATO. The leaders of Democracy are going to implement censoring of news and media instead of providing security and protection against the Taliban.

Hamish Macdonald, a reporter for Al Jazeera, writes on twitter, “Election eve in Kabul, more violence. Journalists being asked NOT to report Election Day violence by the government. I think ordinary Afghans are really scared of voting. The shootout in a Kabul bank this morning is one reason why. “

The Karzai government thinks it will do a horrible job protecting voters and the public on Election Day, and therefore is ready to use violence to stop violence coverage. Sounds like it’s time for a different president in Afghanistan.

Here is a link to an article about how letting the media cover the violence helps hurt the Taliban http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3948087-afghan-govt-requests-ban-of-violence-coverage-by-all-media-for-election-day