Warlords as media moguls

In the wake of September 11, when the USA was busy installing a puppet regime consisting of notorious warlords, the Human Rights Watch issued a backgrounder.

A number of commanders associated with the new coalition of warlords had, according to HRW, a record of serious human rights abuses. The HRW listed Uzbek warlord Rashid Dostum (head of Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami-yi Afghanistan or National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan). Iran-backed Ayatollah Muhammad Asif Mohseni (leader of Harakat-i Islami-yi Afghanistan, or Islamic Movement of Afghanistan) was pointed out. Similarly, Haji Muhammad Muhaqiq of Hizb-i Wahdat got a special mention. Also, Burhanudin Rabbani was named as were other Northern Alliance leaders.

Even if HRW had not issued a backgrounder, we in Afghanistan know what these warlords stand for. We have been their victims. We do not need dossiers or research reports to find out who is a warlord and what crime he has been committing.

Having granted themselves immunity against war crimes through a parliament they control, pocketing all the aid money pouring since September 11, earning another few billions from drug trade, now these warlords have developed a new interest in media.

Having silenced the dissident voices, curbed independent websites and newspapers, these warlords were still not satisfied as independent journalists manage to convey subversive ideas between the lines. Also, blogs and social media outlets have become a menace. Hence, it was important to have a machine of their own to spin the truth away. Therefore, we find Rashid Dostum running a TV channel called Aiena (Mirror). It is broadcast in Afghanistan and through a Turkish satellite across the region. Sheikh Asif Mohseni has launched Tamadon (Civilization) TV channel. Haji Mohaqiq is running Farda (Tomorrow). It is not confirmed but many believe that Yunus Qannoni owns Noorin (Lights) while Rabbani controls Noor (Light).

Meantime, since the beginning of the Karzai regime in 2002, twenty Afghan journalists have been murdered while over 200 violent physical attacks against journalists have been reported. Many have fled Afghanistan after receiving threats against them or their families. One young journalist, Kambaksh, was sentenced to death. Several remain in jail after being arrested for their work. Radio and television stations, print media, and Internet services have been attacked, blocked, damaged, and even burned to the ground by government and other politico-religious agents and gangs.

According to a report by CPJ, or Committee to protect Journalists, as much as 86 per cent killings were of those journalists who were covering war while journalists covering politics and human rights are second and third on the lists as victims.

Women are also a special target for misogynist Taliban as well as their counterparts in Karzai's team. Zakia Zaki, for instance, was killed in 2007. She was also a human rights activist. Nilofar Habibi, working with Heart TV, was stabbed. She was given warnings against appearing on TV. A presenter on Tolo TV, Shaima Razayee was warned by fundamentalists about her 'unIslamic' programs. One day she was found shot dead in her apartment. She was only twenty-four. On June 1, 2007 a newscaster for Shamshad TV was killed in Kabul. According to CPJ, following 21 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan:

Rupert Hamer, Sunday Mirror

January 10, 2010, in an area near Nawa, Afghanistan

Michelle Lang, Calgary Herald and Canwest News Service

December 30, 2009, in an area south of Kandahar, Afghanistan

Sultan Mohammed Munadi, The New York Times

September 9, 2009, in an area near Kunduz, Afghanistan

Abdul Samad Rohani, BBC and Pajhwok Afghan News

June 7 or 8, 2008, in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan

Carsten Thomassen, Dagbladet

January 15, 2008, in Kabul, Afghanistan

Zakia Zaki, Sada-i-Sulh

June 4, 2007, in Parwan province, Afghanistan

Ajmal Naqshbandi, freelance

April 8, 2007, in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Christian Struwe, freelance

October 7, 2006, in Baghlan, Afghanistan

Karen Fischer, freelance

October 7, 2006, in Baghlan, Afghanistan

Abdul Qodus, Aryana TV

July 22, 2006, in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Ulf Strömberg, TV4

November 26, 2001, in Taloqan, Afghanistan

Harry Burton, Reuters Television

November 19, 2001, in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

Azizullah Haidari, Reuters

November 19, 2001, in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

Julio Fuentes, El Mundo

November 19, 2001, in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

Maria Grazia Cutuli, Corriere della Serra

November 19, 2001, in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

Pierre Billaud, Radio Télévision Luxembourg

November 11, 2001, in Takhar Province, Afghanistan

Volker Handloik, freelance reporter

November 11, 2001, in Takhar Province, Afghanistan

Johanne Sutton, Radio France Internationale

November 11, 2001, in Takhar Province, Afghanistan

Marc Brunereau, freelance

September 5, 2001, in Taloqan/Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan

Mahmoud Saremi, Iranian News Agency (IRNA)

August 8, 1998, in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan

Mirwais Jalil, BBC World Service

July 29, 1994, in an area near Kabul, Afghanistan