Renewal of Makkal Osai's Permit

In less then ten days since the Home Affairs Ministry chose not renew the publication permit of the Tamil Daily Makkal Osai, it ‘reconsidered’ its decision and renewed the permit after all.

It indicates a few good things about the Ministry. First, it shows that the Ministry does indeed listen to the public. Second it indicates that the Ministry is willing to change its decision if it does not sit well with public opinion. On these I congratulate the Government. It brightens the path towards a more interactive and responsive government.

However, the Ministry’s reversal also raises several questions. What has so drastically changed in the last ten days that warranted the reversal? Does this not indicate that the Ministry’s decision not to renew in the first place was based on subjective grounds?

This whole episode also highlights the thin ice upon which our press thread. The employees of the daily would be have been put in a state of uncertainty and despair during the ‘ban’. The livelihood of people working in the press is entirely dependant on some decision taken by someone somewhere based on grounds upon which they have no control.

A free, vigilant and robust press is essential for a vibrant democracy.

The Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 must be reviewed.

I would like to hear your opinion on this.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

http://s-murugesan.blogspot.com/

Makkal Osai and Freedom of Expression

It’s a sad day for free speech when the Home Affairs Ministry ‘banned’ the Tamil Daily Makkal Osai a few days ago. When contacted, the Home Affairs Minister chose to get technical and said that it was ‘not a ban’ and that the Ministry simply ‘chose not to renew’ the daily’s permit.

Free speech is not a privilege that can be bestowed and revoked at the government’s wish. It is an inalienable right which can only be curtailed by law when that freedom is abused in such a way that it injures another or poses a threat to national security. Granted that we have laws regulating press and publication, the Home Affairs Ministry should not be fast to use its discretionary powers to curtail freedom of expression.

The Ministry should give detailed reasons as to why the daily’s permit was not renewed. A mere statement that it ‘violated guidelines threatening racial harmony’ is insufficient. If in fact the daily had violated the guidelines, then the Ministry should list the ‘violating’ articles that ‘threaten racial harmony’ of this country. This will allow readers to judge for themselves if the articles were in fact a ‘threat to racial harmony’ and thus the appropriateness of the Ministry’s move.

Previously the Ministry imposed a one month ban on Makkal Osai for its front page publication of a picture of Jesus with a beer can in hand. In that case the Ministry was specific about the offending picture and the ban was generally accepted. The absence of specifics will give rise to speculations which will be damaging to the government. As a friend once said, “they can muffle the voice but the whispers travel faster and are more damaging”.

To be clear, I am not a great fan of that daily. I find its reporting often one-sided and at times, vindictive. However, so long as it keeps within the frame-work the law, its permit should not be revoked, no matter how uncomfortable one might feel towards its reporting.

The Ministry’s move to ‘ban’ the daily will further erode people’s trust and reliance on the mainstream media. This cannot be good for the nation.

With the advent of internet, the flow information can no longer be regulated. There are bound to be misinformation in the media and not all of it can be weeded-out by the government. Except in extreme cases, it is best that the government allows citizens to sieve for themselves the truth from half-truths and lies.

We cannot march towards becoming a great nation by trampling on freedom of expression.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

http://s-murugesan.blogspot.com/