The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Afghan government today announced a news blackout on the ongoing armed conflict in the war-torn Arab country.

In a Reuters report, Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security spokesperson Saeed Ansari said that "live coverage does not benefit the government, but benefits the enemies of Afghanistan," referring to the Taliban party, which is the target of the ongoing Operation Moshtarak military offensive led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. According to the report, “journalists who film while attacks are under way will be held and their gear [will be] seized.”

Meanwhile, Ansari said in an Associated Press (AP) report that the said news blackout is in consonance with “Article 7 of Afghanistan's National Security Law.”

Media groups slam media ban

Local and foreign press opposed the media ban imposed by Afghanistan.

"We believe broad, pre-emptive bans on coverage are inconsistent with a democratic society. Experience shows there are many ways to cover important breaking stories without interfering with police or security operations,” said AP managing editor for international news John Daniszewski.

"Such a decision prevents the public from receiving accurate information on any occurrence," Abdul Hameed Mubarez of the Afghan National Media Union said.

Furthermore, the Afghan Independent Journalists Association “will not accept” what it called a government “censorship of media coverage,” saying that the Hamid Karzai-led government imposed such a media ban during last year's presidential elections.

According to Laila Noori of the Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), "the government should not hide their inabilities by barring media from covering incidents,” while ARM spokesperson Ajmal Samadi revealed that the “Karzai regime's undemocratic moves... are not limited to the state control of the media.”

At least 48 were killed in the ongoing Operation Moshtarak, based on earlier reports posted in the Philippine Online Chronicles.