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The
Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), representing
several hundred women in media across the country,
expresses deep concern over the recent violence
directed towards journalists and media workers
in Kerala. According to media reports, several
journalists, including a woman journalist, were
attacked by supporters of P.K. Kunhalikutty, a
Minister accused in the "Kozhikode Ice Cream
Parlour Case," which dates back to 1997 and
is one of several sex scandals involving the sexual
abuse of young girls allegedly by politicians
and others occupying top positions in the state.
We
understand that V.M. Deepa of Asianet may have
been specially targeted because she reportedly
helped Regina, one of the victims in the case,
to get shelter in a short stay home.
On
1 November 2004, 15 media workers were attacked,
allegedly by activists of the Indian Union Muslim
League (IUML), whilst covering a reception of
the Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, at
the Karipur airport.
The
journalists who were attacked and injured in the
incident include: Asianet correspondent V.M. Deepa
and cameraman K.P. Ramesh, Indiavision correspondent
Baiju Unnikrishnan, Kairali correspondent Shailesh,
Jeevan TV correspondent Ayyappadas and cameraman
Suresh, NTV correspondent Sajeev C. Warrier, Surya
TV reporter Jayan Komath, New Indian Express photographer
N.P. Jayan and Kerala Shabdham reporter Koyamu.
All were admitted to the Baby Memorial Hospital
in Kozhikode.
According
to media reports, at approximately 2:30pm a mob
attacked an Indiavision vehicle whilst another
mob targeted Asianet correspondent V.M. Deepa,
who was repeatedly kicked while others yelled
abusive and lewd remarks at her. The mob threw
stones at the other media workers.
In
a separate incident on 31 October 2004, supporters
of Kunhalikutty staged a protest in response to
media coverage of the Minister. The IUML and its
youth wing Muslim Youth League were protesting
the "aggressive stand" taken by the
media over the allegations of sexual abuse in
the "Kozhikode Ice Cream Parlour Scandal."
During the protest, the Cochin and Kozhikode officers
of the Malayalam news channel Indiavision were
stoned and the vehicles of the channel were ransacked.
M.P. Prashanth, Kozihikode bureau chief of The
New Indian Express, was attacked by a group of
men allegedly belong to the IUML and the Youth
League. Prashanth was covering the protest in
front of Indiavision. Deshabhimani photographer
K S Praveen Kumar's camera was also badly damaged
in the attack.
It
is unacceptable for journalists to be attacked
in attempts to censor reports, especially when
the exposes concern those occupying positions
of power. In the best traditions of press freedom,
journalists must be allowed to perform their professional
duties free from violence and intimidation.
The
NWMI strongly condemns the attacks on journalists
and welcomes Chief Minister Oomen Chandy’s
order of a judicial probe and announcement of
a proposed legislation providing stringent punishment
to those who attack journalists. The NWMI hopes
that these measures will indeed ensure that the
guilty -- no matter what position they hold--
are held accountable and prosecuted under due
process of law.
For
The Network of Women in Media, India
- Laxmi
Murthy, New Delhi
- Priti
Mehra Pillai, New Delhi
- Ann
Ninan, New Delhi
- Kalpana
Sharma, Mumbai
- Vidyottama
Sharma, Mumbai
- Meena
Menon, Mumbai
- Sharmila
Joshi, Mumbai
- Amrita
Shah, Mumbai
- Preeti
Kannan, Mumbai
- Rupa
Chinai, Mumbai
- Lina
Mathias, Mumbai
- Sandhya
Srinivasan, Mumbai
- Anjali
Mathur, Mumbai
- Jyoti
Punwani, Mumbai
- Susan
Abraham, Mumbai
- Rajashri
Dasgupta, Kolkata
- Ranjita
Biswas, Kolkata
- Shoma
Chatterjee, Kolkata
- Aditi
Bhaduri, Kolkata
- Indira
Kanjilal, Kolkata
- Ammu
Joseph, Bangalore
- Vasanthi
Hariprakash, Bangalore
- Shamantha
DS, Bangalore
- Sandhya
Taksale, Pune
- Linda
Chhakchhuak, Shillong
- Akhileshwari
Ramagoud, Hyderabad
- Parvathi
Devi, Thiruvanathapuram
- Shahina
KK, Kerala
- Renu
Ramanath, Kochi
- Geeta
Seshu, Mumbai
- Varsha
Pillai, ANI-Reuters TV
- Uttara
Gangopadhyay, Kolkata
- Rina
Mukherjee, Kolkata
This
letter of protest was sent to the chief minister
of Kerala, Mr.Oommen Chandy.
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