A protest rally in favour of NewsClick in New Delhi on October 4, 2023. Photo by Deepak Parvatiyar
Geneva/Washington/Guwahati: The United States as well as the Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) have expressed their concern over the raids on news portal NewsClick, a 2009-founded news site, and arrests of its journalists, but are treading cautiously on the issue of China’s involvement in the funding of the news site.
In Washington, the US State Department stated earlier this week that although Washington was aware of concerns that this news outlet was part of a Chinese influence operation that was funded through a network of an American businessman, “we can’t comment yet on the veracity of those claims”.
Coming to India’s action, a Department spokesperson said on October 4, 2023, (IST), “Separately of course, though, the US Government strongly supports the robust role of the media globally, including social media, in a vibrant and free democracy, and we raise concerns on these matters with the Indian Government, with countries around the world, through our diplomatic engagements that are, of course, at the core of our bilateral relationship”.
Washington said it had urged the Indian Government, “and have done so not just with India but other countries as well”, about the importance of respecting the human rights of journalists, including freedom of expression both online and offline.
PEC, the global media safety and rights body, too, today referred to the allegations by the Indian government authorities that the NewsClick management received a huge amount of money from China to support anti-India agendas. The PEC further noted that it was stated that the news site pursued Chinese propaganda to exclude Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir (or shown as disputed territories) from the map of India.
Even as it expressed its concerns over the arrests of journalists attached to NewsClick, and the raids on its office which was thereafter sealed in New Delhi, Blaise Lempen, president of PEC, said that since the Indian authority has accused the NewsClick family of indulging in anti-Bharat activities with the help of money supplied by the Chinese agencies in Beijing, it needs to be clarified and also verified.
“PEC supports each and every journalist across the globe who has been performing duties with all integrity and honesty… We urge New Delhi to release the media persons and give them ample scopes to defend themselves in the course of legal battles,” Lempen said.
The founder of NewsClick, Prabir Purkayastha along with Amit Chakravarty were arrested under the ‘Unlawful Activities Prevention Act’ for spreading pro-China content through the news portal. While its office in New Delhi was sealed, as many as 45 suspects were questioned and a large number of electronic devices from their custody were also seized by the investigating police personnel. The police also raided the residences of many journalists and writers associated with it.
Meanwhile, a northeast India-based scribe’s forum (Journalists’ Forum Assam) came out with a statement that no scribe should be harassed because of his/her profession, but at the same time, none should play the role of a tool for an enemy nation in greed of money. PEC’s India representative Nava Thakuria said that JFA president Rupam Barua had clarified that the profession should not allow anyone to indulge in anti-national activities for selfish interests. Barua also expressed dismay over the boycott of 14 television news anchors by India’s opposition parties.
– global bihari bureau
