Seoul: Cautioning the Democratic countries to guard against exploitation of
Democracies by terrorists, India on November 11 called for a balance between the
security interests and right to information and speech.
"Strengths of Democracies have been exploited by terrorists. There is a need to find
a balance between the imperative of security and the right to information and
speech," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said while co-chairing a session
on 'Media and Democracy' at the 2nd ministerial conference of the Community of
Democracies.
With media freedom goes accountability and responsibility and the issue has acquired
greater urgency in the context of terrorism, Sinha told foreign ministers and
delegates from more than 100 countries, who have gathered here to draw a blueprint
for the future of global Democracy.
Sinha suggested that through self-regulation, the citizens' rights to objective and
reliable information could be fulfilled particularly in developing countries and in
countries without 'plurality and diversity' in media.
He said that the relationship between media and Democracy was symbiotic and
Democracy was essential for media freedom.
"At the same time, alert functioning of media nurtures Democratic process," he said
while stressing that Democracy is not merely elections or change in governments.
"Above all, it is people's participation in public affairs. For this, free media is
essential," he said.
Sinha noted that there are many aspect to the concept of freedom of media.
"The obvious aspect is freedom from government control," he said asking whether that
alone was enough to ensure press freedom.
In this context, he also cited editorial freedom from ownership interests, other
vested or sectional interests as factors preventing freedom of the media.
The minister also talked about journalistic ethics and integrity, which he said
could only come when the journalists are not exploited and they can remain
professionals.
He pointed out to India's experience in this field where the country had a Press
Council and an independent mechanism for fixing a remunerative package for
journalists.
PTI
