SAFMA aims at Peace and Harmony in South Asia

Mr. Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General, SAFMA

The South Asian Free Media Association, SAFMA, has already set an irresistible trend of building bridges in the region, to say the least.

Comparatively a new regional media forum in the South Asian region, SAFMA boasts to engage almost a whole lot of media practitioners, representatives of civil society and most sections of political opinion in a process of dialogue. The last year's Dhaka conference was a resounding success, thanks to a road-based national chapter of SAFMA and support extended by every section of the society, including both the contending major political parties.

Now SAFMA looks ahead with greater confidence, with the backing of mainstream media in each country of South Asia.

The process thus goes on.

The Kathmandu regional conference held just the other day in your beautiful capital is yet another milestone in the success of SAFMA activities initiated some three years ago only.

We are here to bring peace and harmony among the people, leaders, civil society, statesmen and ultimately among the states of the region.

Our motto is to open the channels of information for all the people inhabiting this part of South Asia. We are fighting for securing media rights.

The Kathmandu conference was a grand success. We discussed amendments to media laws in order to suit to the changed context. We have also been able to bring in a broad-based media together having varied opinions. We wish the Nepal chapter of the SAFMA has a competent and broad-based set that is energetic and vibrant competent enough to lead the Nepal chapter with full vigor.

SAFMA in essence wants peace: peace in the borders and peace in and among states of the region so that the people living in this region could feel that they were having a common identity and could well feel proud in being called as South Asians. In the same vein, we in the SAFMA wish to have a Union of South Asian democracies. We are determined to push this idea to the governments of the region and call upon all states of the region to listen to our voice with seriousness.

SAFMA believes that a united media can make a marked difference and the difference will be for the better. To achieve these lofty goals all that we need is the establishment of broad-based chapters of SAFMA in each respective SAARC capitals.

With each passing day, SAFMA is evolving into an interactive media community across frontiers in this part of the world. It is increasingly becoming a voice for access to and free flow of information and media freedom in our countries where the media is faced with numerous restrictions and extraordinary pressures. The journalists have been killed, tortured, imprisoned and harassed with varying degrees, in almost all countries that come under the ambit of SAFMA. What is, however, disturbing is that a large section of the media in SA countries is still "embedded" with their establishments or various powerful lobbies. yet a majority of the media practitioners have learnt to face all odds and keep the banner of their freedom flying.

SAFMA pledges to make the media a true defender of the people's interest, fundamental rights and advocate our civil societies. Bringing peace within our countries and among the nations of SA will remain our main focus and we will continue our efforts at bringing mainstream forces together for the common good of our people who constitute a fifth of the world population.

To tell you frankly, I have high hopes from SAFMA Nepal Chapter. It was really gratifying to listen from your Prime Minister when he assured us all that he would do all that he could in order to enhance the credibility and working capabilities of Nepal SAFMA chapter. He has extended his fullest support. It is up to the officials of Nepal chapter to extract the needful from their prime minister.

In addition to that, we have also been assured by the General Secretary of the Nepali Congress and by the General Secretary of the UML that they will back the SAFMA Nepal chapter when it comes to the amendment of certain outdated media laws.

Regarding the visa fee waiver for the visiting media men by Nepal let me say that it was an excellent move that needs to be copied by the other governments of the region. Hats off to Nepal and to her sensitivity exhibited towards the media men of the region.

With all these positive developments taking place in the region, I am confident that a day will soon come when we the South Asian will have sentimental attachments for each other immaterial of the fact that who lived where.

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