Acknowledgment and Compliments To all those visionaries, media persons, political leaders, civil society activists, funding partners, Norway and the Netherlands, and all those well-wishers and supporters who made SAFMA's arduous journey easy in pursuing its dream of creating a South Asian fraternity and moving towards a South Asian Union and a free media above all divides. Special compliments to those who silently backed up SAFMA's endeavours from the Central Secretariat. Imtiaz Alam Founding Secretary General SAFMA
Excellency Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India “India is fully committed to removing barriers to the exchange of goods, people and ideas within our region. The media can be an important catalyst of this process. I hope that SAFMA, as one of the existing forums for interaction of senior media persons from the SAARC countries, would utilize the Journalists Summit to discuss the importance of the free flow of information, media personnel and media products within the SAARC region.”
Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistani “I compliment SAFMA and its Secretary General Imtiaz Alam and my good friend Nusrat Javeed for taking a timely initiative. I appreciate all efforts for promoting understanding and cooperation in the region.” (Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-I Islamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009)
(SAARC Journalists Summit III, New Delhi, India, April 1-2, 2007)
Madam Sonia Gandhi, President, All India Congress “SAFMA has played a significant role in bringing the nations of the region closer through the exchange and flow of information and ideas. The Summit will be another step in this direction.” SAARC Journalists Summit III, New Delhi, India, April 1-2, 2007
Ms Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister & Chairperson, Pakistan Peoples Party “It is a pivotal moment in the history of the people of South Asia at the dawn of new millennium that the impetus for peace is at our doorsteps once again. I believe sustainable peace is possible with true democracy. I dream of triumph of democracy, pluralism, tolerance, understanding and accommodation in our region trusting in your (SAFMA's) ability to make history.” (SAFMA: Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists and Experts Conference, Islamabad, Pakistan August 10-11, 2003)
Madam Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Prime Minister of Bangladesh “ I wish the success of this SAFMA initiative, as I believe the media and the civil society can supplement the efforts of South Asian political leadership in resolving conflicts and promoting regional cooperation and integration.” (SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliament Islamabad/Bhurban, May 15-20, 2005)
Excellency Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan “The first international conference between parliamentarians, social organisations and editors of both the countries is taking place for further strengthening relations. Terrorism, which has created problems for the people in the region, can be defeated by cooperation and a joint war against terrorism and in this way peace could be maintained in both countries. I appreciate the initiative and efforts of SAFMA for providing such a valuable opportunity.” (Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-I, Islamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009)
Excellency Madav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister of Nepal “SAFMA's continuous endeavours towards establishing South Asian parliament are praiseworthy and commendable.” SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: Shimla, India, June 2-3, 2007
Excellency Jigmi Y. Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan “For me, as an admirer of your (SAFMA's) work, it is a privilege to have the opportunity to address such a powerful group of leaders of South Asia's media community whose impact and reputations extend far beyond our region. The concept of a shared consciousness tells us that we can only realise such a vision through the media.” (Fifth SAARC Journalists Summit, April 26, 27, 2010 Paro, Bhutan)
Excellency Atal Behari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister of India “We should not defy logic and distort reality to avoid mutually beneficial cooperation. We cannot deny our people their right to peaceful and cooperative economic development. If your (SAFMA's) meetings and deliberations can encourage a movement towards such a cooperative future for our two countries, they would serve a noble cause.” SAFMA: Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists and Experts Conference Islamabad, Pakistan August 10-11, 2003
Somnath Chatterjee, Former Speaker of Indian Lok Sabha “I compliment SAFMA for its laudable efforts in bringing together the parliamentarians of the region with a view to transforming this region into one of peace, tranquillity and development. I wish to compliment SAFMA for having taken the responsibility of strengthening media capacity and promoting access to and free flow of information across the region.” SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliament Shimla, India, June 2-3, 2007
Madam Khaleda Zia, Former prime minsiter ogf Bangaldesh “I understand that SAFMA is actively engaged in promoting a considerable degree of goodwill and fostering mutual understanding among the media practitioners in South Asia. Its stride in this direction will have an indelible mark on strengthening the SAARC spirit among the peoples of our nations.” Second South Asian Free Media Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal, January 1-2, 2002
Excellency Pervez Musharraf, Former President of Pakistan “I renew an earlier assurance given to SAFMA to allow free movement of journalists from SAARC, including India, to all parts of Pakistan.” SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliament, Islamabad/Bhurban, May 15-20, 2005
L K Advani, Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha “I want to compliment SAFMA for spreading the message fo South Asian fraternity through various initiatives. These initiatives have the potential to make a far-reaching impact. It would not be an exaggeration to say that by sketching the scenario of a South Asian Fraternal Community, your forum has scripted the trailer of the things that could happen in South Asia in 21st century. SAFMA's contribution in this regard has been truly outstanding.” SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliament Islamabad/Bhurban, May 15-20, 2005
Dr Fehmida Mirza, Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly “SAFMA enabling the visionary souls of the SAARC region to sit together in spite of mutual misgivings indicates the vitality of this (SAFMA) platform. I hope this organisation will continue building bridges and bring our two sides even closer.” (Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-I Islamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009)
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly “SAFMA has been an agent of converting the heat and friction into coolness of friendship in the region. This transformation has been a pleasant thing for which SAFMA has been working.” SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliament Shimla, India, June 2-3, 2007
SAFMA is born First South Asian Free Media Conference Islamabad, Pakistan July 1-2, 2000
Towards Free, Fair and Vibrant Media
Satnam Singh Manak, Shambhu Shreshta, Kanak Mani Dixit, Vinod Mehta, Ajeet Bhattacharjee, Imtiaz Alam, I. A. Rehman, Kamila Hyat, Reazuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Sobhan Chaudhury, Aslam Azhar, Ubaidullah Beg
Celebrating SAFMA's Ten Years Second South Asian Free Media Conference Kathmandu, Nepal, January 1-2, 2002
Media and Peace
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba addressing the concluding session
Journalists from South Asian countries march for peace in Kathmandu on January 2, 2002
The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) completes 10 years of its existence on July 2, 2010. The delegates attending the First South Asia Free Media Conference (SAFMC) in Islamabad decided to form a mainstream media body of the region on 2nd July 2000. The founding conference evolved a programme, “Media Development, Freedom and Peace in South Asia�, that focused on two-fold objectives to pursue in the subsequent years: a) media development, free flow of and access to information and a free, professionally competent, unbiased and independent media in the region and (b) promote a culture of dialogue and an environment for understanding, tolerance, peace, conflict resolution and cross-border cooperation leading towards a South Asian Union and help bring an end to the menace of extremism and terrorism. Since then SAFMA has been established in all the eight member countries of SA ARC, with elected National Chapters and offices in most countries of the region. The South Asia Media Centre was also established in Lahore from where SAFMA Central Secretariat
Third South Asian Free Media Conference Media and Democracy
Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 25-26, 2003
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begam Khaleda Zia addressing the Special Plenary
Delegates pose with President Iajuddin Ahmed
Fourth South Asian Free Media Conference Lahore, Pakistan, November 20-21, 2004
Media and Reconciliation in South Asia
President Musharaf elaborating his view on Indo-Pak relations and his much talked about outlines on Kashmir
Fifth South Asian Free Media Conference Hyderabad, India, February 11-12, 2006
National Languages Media and Peace in South Asia
operates. SAFMA has eight elected National Chapters and a Regional Executive Body. It is recognisd by SAARC as an Associated Body but has yet to be given the status of an Apex Body, which it must be given at the earliest. The Action Plan approved by the Information Ministers of SAARC has been implemented by SAFMA, by establishing South Asian Media Centre, South Asian Media Net, South Asian Journal, South Asia Media School and journalists exchanges and editors conferences. So far SAFMA has held seven regional South Asian Free Media Conferences, five SAARC Journalists Summits, two Indo-Pak, two South Asian, one PakAfghan parliamentary conferences and various sub-regional exchanges to promote free media, peace and regional cooperation such as DhakaKolkata, Mumbai-Karachi, PunjabPunjab and Kashmir-Kashmir.
Media, Peace and Poverty Alleviation
Sixth South Asian Free Media Conference Colombo, Sri Lanka, August 19-20, 2007
Delegates pose for a snap with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse during their visit to Temple Trees, the President's House, in Colombo
Interstate Conflicts in South Asia
SAFMA Regional Conference New Delhi, India, October 9-10, 2004
SAFMA India General Secretary Vinod Sharma delivering welcome remarks
Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia Seventh South Asian Free Media Conference
(L to R) SAFMA India General Secretary Vinod Sharma, Sanjiv Barua, Press Secretary to Prime Minister, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, External Affairs Minister of India Natwar Singh, SAFMA India President KK Katyal and SAFMA President Reazuddin Ahmed
Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, February, 2009
SAFMA leaders and Abul Kalam Azad, Information Minister of Bangladesh, Professor Rehman Sobhan stand in silence for those who lost their lives for media and democracy
Saarc Journalists Summit II Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 10-11, 2005
Journalists Beyond Frontiers
SAARC Journalists Summits Left to Right: SAFMA Sri Lanka President Laxman Gunasekera, SAFMA India President K K Katyal, India's State Minister for External Affairs E Ahamed, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, SAFMA President Reazuddin Ahmed, SAFMA Pakistan President M Ziauddin, SAFMA Nepal President Gopal Thapalya
Saarc Journalists Summit I Rawalpindi, Pakistan, January 3, 4 2004
South Asian Media Net: South Asian Media Net has been online for eight years. The news and views website is updated daily to provide one window to all South Asian countries. It has been renovated with audio-video facilities a n d c a n b e a c c e s s e d a t www.southasianmedia.net. Any South Asian can file a story or views on the site and join various discussion forums on it. SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC members can have their conferences on this site.
and SAMC. The Foundation has entered contribution agreements with UNDP, Norway and the Netherlands and raised more than US$ 8 million to run SAFMA activities in the past eight years. The Foundation accepts the work-plans and the budgets proposed by the Regional Executive Bodies of SAFMA, SAWM and SAMC and their Secretary Generals are represented on the Board of Governors of the Foundation.
Free Media Foundation (FMF): FMF, registered under the Societies Act, has been the implementing agency for SAFMA, SAWM
South Asian Free Media Endowment (Fund): To become self-sustaining, FMF/SAFMA has proposed the creation of
Saarc Journalists Summit III Delhi, India, April 1-2, 2007
Journalists Above Divides
Access to and Free Flow of Information
A happy handshake: Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Imtiaz Alam and Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri
Rangin Dafdar Spanta, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Iftikhar Ahmed Chowdhry, Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh, Ahmed Shaheed, Foreign Minister of Maldives, Imtiaz Alam, SAFMA Secretary General, K. K. Katyal, SAFMA India President, Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister of India, Chair of SAARC Council of Ministers, Sahana Pradhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nepal, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Rohitha Bagollagama, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and Shiv Shankar Menon, the Foreign Secretary of India
Freedom of Media in Conflict Situations
Saarc Journalists Summit IV Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 30-31, August 1, 2008
Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the Adviser for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Bhutan's Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister of India, SAFMA President Lakshman Gunasekara, Rohitha Bogollagama, Chairman, Council of Ministers of SAARC, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of Maldives, Gyan Chandra Acharya, Foreign Minister of Nepal
Environment and South Asia
a South Asia Free Media Endowment (Fund) worth US$ 20.34 million with a possible contribution from SAARC Development Fund and members/observers of SAARC at the SAARC Journalists Summit-V in Bhutan in April 2010. SAFMA has also proposed the creation of scholarships worth US$ 336,000 annually from the respective SAARC countries for their young journalists to be trained at the South Asian Media School. SAFMA's Impact: SAFMA has been instrumental in promoting free and responsible media to promote tolerance, peace and cooperation in South Asia. Pursuing a two-pronged strategy to achieve its twin objectives of developing a conscientious media community with a South Asian perspective and engaging media for conflict resolution, peace, tolerance and regional cooperation, SAFMA has made a remarkable contribution. Media Related Achievements: SAFMA, SAMC and SAWM have achieved the following media objectives: a) An active media network across borders with regularly elected national chapters, Media Resource Centres in eight countries and Regional Executive Bodies elected every two year by South Asian Free Media Conference and SAWM and SAMC Regional Conferences, a Central Secretariat in Lahore, Pakistan; b) Strengthening the right to know and freedom of expression by bringing changes into media and other laws of those countries that prohibit freedom of
expression and right to know; c) Promoting free flow of information and movement of media-persons and media products across borders; d) Raising media professional standards through training and reorientation (SAMS); e) Helping media persons rise above their national/ethnic/religious divides in conflict situations; f) Overcoming information deficit through joint media productions, such as South Asian Media Net, a news and views portal and South Asian Journal, a high quality quarterly magazine; g) Monitoring attacks on media-persons and media organisations and auditing media content; publication of annual and periodical reports on media (South Asia Media Monitor); solidarity movements for media freedom and peace, such as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka; h) Gender sensitization and mainstreaming through workshops and guidelines, now under the auspices of SAWM; i) Joint media platforms for action and reform at the national and regional levels; j) Redefining media's role in conflicts, women rights, good governance, peace, fighting terrorism etc.; k) Promoting regional cooperation, conflict resolution and isolating religious extremism and fighting terrorism through media campaigns and subregional, bilateral and regional fora, interactions, exchanges and networking (South Asian Parliamentary conferences, Indo-Pak parliamentary conferences, Pak-Afghan Parliamentary conferences, Kashmir-Kashmir, Punjab-Punjab, Mumbai-Karachi,
Saarc Journalists Summit V Paro, Bhutan, April 27-28, 2010
Bhutan's Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley addressing the opening session
Second Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists & Experts Conference Islamabad, Pakistan, August 10-11, 2003
Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly and SAFMA presidium standing in respect as national anthems of Pakistan and India are played
(Left to right) Makhdoom Amin Fahim, President PPP-P, Senator Ehsanul Haq Piracha, former president Farooq Leghari, President of Millat Party, Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani, MP, and ruling PML-Q President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain
Dhaka-Kolkota sub-regional exchanges); l) Strengthening democracy, democratic culture, promoting tolerance and curbing terrorism and religious extremism through various activities. SAFMA's Achievements for Peace: SAFMA has expanded its appeal and influence beyond the media community that increasingly joined its ranks. SAFMA is playing an active role in conflict resolution, peacemaking, confidence building, and eradication of terrorism and extremism. In its ten-year existence, SAFMA has been at
First Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists & Experts Conference
Understanding, Confidence-building, Conflict-resolution
(Left to right) Sardar Zora Singh Mann, MP Shiromani Akali Dal, Laloo Parasad Yadav, President, RJD, Ram Jethmalani, MP, Independent and Saleem Iqbal Shervani, MP, SP, with other delegates.
Ruling PML-Q and the opposition PML-N leaders
the centre-stage of creating understanding, reconciliation processes and confidence between Pakistan and India and Afghanistan and Pakistan: a) It brought together not only journalists from all divides, but also parliamentarians, politicians and experts from these countries, besides building bridges between Bangladesh and India and Nepal and Bhutan. Its initiatives have led to ceasefire between India and Pakistan, after it brought together the members of the two parliaments in Islamabad who called for a ceasefire and initiated confidence-
Towards Detente in the Subcontinent Indian delegates with President Pervez Musharraf at the Presidency
Islamabad, Pakistan
PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto addressing a session
(L to R) Prithviraj Chauhan, S. M. Krishna (now Indian External Affairs Minister) and other delegates
Creating South Asian Parliament SAFMA's first Parliamentary Forum
Evolving South Asian Fraternity
Bhurban Pakistan, May 15-20, 2005
The presidium of the opening session: (Right to left) M. Ziauddin, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, Abu Hena, Reazuddin Ahmed, Speaker, National Assembly, Ch. Amir Hussain, Imtiaz Alam, Ashwini Kumar, Sripathi Suriarachchi, Gopal Thapaliya, Aroosa Alam
Parliamentarians representing all political parties in all the eight parliaments of member countries of SAARC resolve to create a SOUTH ASIAN UNION in their two successive parliamentary conferences held in Bhurban, Pakistan, and Shimla, India SAFMA's Parliamentary Forum II: South Asian Parliament Shimla, India, June 2-3, 2007
Towards South Asian Unity
UP FOR NATIONAL ANTHEMS: (L to R) Dr Mahmmad Saleh Saljoqi, MP from Afghanistan, Dr Osman Faruque, former MP from Bangladesh, Dasho Sangye Wangdi from Bhutan, K K Katyal, President of SAFMA, Virbharda Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Somnath Chatterjee, the speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha, Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General of SAFMA, K Keshava Rao, MP from India, Mohamed Shihab, MP from Maldives, Madhav Kumar Nepal, MP from Nepal, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly, W.J.M. Lokubandara, Speaker of the Sri Lanka Parliament
SAFMA Pak-Afghan Dialogue Islamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009
Building Long-Term Partnership
President Asif Ali Zardari, Amanullah Paiman (Head of the Afghan delegation), at the centre, President SAFMA Afghanistan Ehsanullah Arianzai and SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam standing as national anthems are played before the ceremony at the Presidency
Delegates of the Conference standing for national anthems at the Presidency
Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-I
SAFMA Secretary General, Imtiaz Alam, former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Governor Pakhtoonkhwa Owais Ghani, Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Fehmida Mirza, Head of Afghan Delegation Amanullah Paiman, SAFMA Afghanistan President Ehsanullah Arianzai, Senator Afrasiab Khattak
Journalists Exchange Across the Line of Control 2004
Free Movement of Journalists and Information
Free Movement of Journalists and Information
Pakistani journalists waving goodbye to their hosts in Indian-administered Kashmir
Mumbai-Karachi Exchange
Journalists Exchange Across the Line of Control 2004
Indian journalists at a function in Gilgit
Punjab-Punjab Exchange
Karachi, Pakistan, 2006
2006
Indian delegates at a reception in Karachi
building measures between the two countries. Encouraged by SAFMA's initiative, India and Pakistan initiated a series of confidence-building measures and a composite dialogue process. b) By exchanging two groups of journalists across the Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, SAFMA facilitated an understanding on opening the LoC to divided families and a bus service between the two capitals of divided Kashmir. SAFMA organized two South Asian Parliamentary conferences
Pakistani delegates receive a welcome memento at Chandigarh Press Club
in Pakistan and India that attracted official delegations of all parties from all the legislatures of the region and set the agenda of South Asian Economic and Parliamentary Union. It achieved yet another landmark by bringing together the parliamentarians from Afghanistan and Pakistan in Islamabad. d) Quite refreshing and motivating was a visit by the captains of industry, agriculture, culture and media from the Pakistan side of Punjab to the Indian side and between
Mumbai and Karachi, Dhaka and Kolkata and journalists' exchange across the divided Kashmir. Institutional Development: The Free Media Foundation, SAFMA, SAWM and SAMC have taken far reaching measures for its institutional development. The Central Secretariat has evolved a well thought-out institutional Development Plan and has implemented it. Free Media Foundation's
South Asian Electronic Media Workshop Breaking the Line June 15-17, 2004, Karachi, Pakistan
Talat Hussain, Khaled Ahmed, Ghazi Salahuddin, Barkha Dutt and Mujahid Barelvi
CNN-IBN's editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai from India making a comment
Babar Ayaz, Monjur-ul-Ahsan Bulbul, Vinod Sharma, Khaled Ahmed and Kumar Ketkar
Memorandum has been revised, on the advice of a leading corporate lawyers firm, to create a strong and clear institutional and structural relationship between the FMF and SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC. Similarly, SAFMA's, SAWM's and SAMC's memorandums have also been amended to strengthen this institutional and structural relationship. Ernst and Young Chartered Accountants have undertaken a comprehensive Gap Analysis of FMF's Central Secretariat's financial, managerial and HR procedures. The Report was approved and Ernst and Young were asked to propose Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). They proposed two manuals on finance and HR as well as a manual for National Chapters, to bring our working and governance in accordance with best practices and international corporate standards to strengthen good governance, accountability, transparency, necessary checks and balances and discipline. FMF, Central Secretariat and National Chapters must ensure that these manuals are fully followed in letter and spirit. A system of result-based Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting has been established and it must be implemented. South Asian Free Media Endowment Fund is being created for selfsustainability. MEDIA, SAARC, SAFMA The 14th SAARC Summit in April 2007 stressed “the need for closer regional cooperation in the field of information and communication technology”. It also directed to take steps on other ICT-enabled fields. The 15th SAARC Summit in August 2008 recognized “the importance of connectivity for realizing the objectives of SAARC …it further stressed the necessity for fast-tracking projects to improving intraregional connectivity and facilitating economic, social and people-to-people contacts”. Things have not moved along these tracks and the SAARC visa exemption scheme has not worked. Media and information remain the most neglected area despite South Asian Free Media Association's (SAFMA) persistent efforts and successive SAARC Summits and the commitments made by the foreign ministers at SAARC Journalists Summits since 2004. The SAARC visa quota for journalists remains unimplemented in India and Pakistan. Generally, the issues of connectivity, communication, routes, cross border linkages, free movement of
Regional Conference on Gender and Media in South Asia June 26-27, 2004, Kathmandu, Nepal
Rita Rahman, Usha Rai, Bandana Rana, Imtiaz Alam, Rita Manchanda, Lasantha Kurukulasuriya
A committee meeting
Sharda Rijal, Farhana Afroz, Mohuya Chaudhuri, Laxman Gunesekera, Muni Saha
people, goods and information still remain unaddressed despite various declarations and recommendations by the relevant forums of SAARC.
SAFMA's Proposal to SAARC and its Member Countries for Scholarships Recognize South Asian Media School as an affiliate of SAARC in media training. We appeal to the member countries of SAARC to approve scholarships for young journalists and fresh graduates for media training from their countries through SAFMA National Chapters for training at South Asia Media School.
The SAARC information ministers had agreed to implement the following measures through a Plan of Action and set the following objectives: 1.
2. Cost per student is calculated USD 3000 approximately. Breakup as Follow: S.No.
Country Name
Scholarships per course
Number of Courses
Total Students
Cost (in USD)
1
Afghanistan
5
4
20
60,000
2
Bangladesh
3
4
12
36,000
3
Bhutan
2
4
8
24,000
4
India
5
4
20
60,000
5
Maldives
2
4
8
24,000
6
Nepal
3
4
12
36,000
7
Pakistan
5
4
20
60,000
8
Sri Lanka
3
4
12
36,000
Total Costs
112
336,000
SAFMA proposes the following steps and measures which SAFMA is ready to facilitate and SAARC and its member states must help implement:
3.
4. 5.
1.
2.
3.
To allow Access to Information. SAFMA has proposed a model Protocol on Information to the member countries and the SAARC for adoption. Ensure an easy and unrestricted visa regime for journalist and for the people at large, for free movement of media persons across South Asia. SAFMA proposes once again our Protocol on Free Movement of Media Persons and Media Products to the 16th SAARC Summit for adoption. Lift all barriers on free flow of information, newspapers, magazines, books, radio and TV channels and other electronic productions, remove all
6.
7.
To actively encourage greater flow of information in the SAARC region. (SAARC region remains prohibitive of the free flow of information and movement of journalists across borders, despite SAFMA's lobbying for the last ten years and its Protocol on Free Movement of Journalists and Media Products repeatedly presented to successive SAARC Summits since 2003.) To generate, disseminate and exchange information material. (Nothing has moved on this account. However, SAFMA has established and maintained since 2003 a daily news and views portal, southasianmedia.net, on the countries of South Asia with two million hits every month.) To strengthen cooperation in the field of media and information and upgrade the professionalism of media persons through human resource development programs and regional exchanges. (Nothing was done for the professional development of journalists. A few exchanges of journalists did take place. SAFMA has, in the meantime, held and organized over 50 regional conferences and exchanges, including journalists/editors, experts, academicians, parliamentarians and politicians. For the professional uplifting of young journalists SAFMA has developed a South Asian Curricula on Media, South Asian Faculty and a South Asian Media School (SAMS), which has held seven 2-month media courses for young journalists from the eight countries.
bottlenecks in postal and telecommunication services and allow a South Asian information highway. Help create a South Asian News Agency, which SAFMA is capable of running. Recognize SAFMA as SAARC's Regional Media Forum and grant SAFMA the status of SAARC's Apex Body. SAFMA is ready to organize the conferences of editors and working journalist from the platform of SAARC with the backing of SAARC secretariat. SAFMA has created South Asian Media Net which covers all about South Asia and member countries of SAARC. SAARC must support southasianmedia.net and we are ready to help develop and update the SAARC website. SAFMA has organized documentary festivals in most countries of the region, besides a South Asian Documentary Festival. SAFMA is ready to organize
Appeal to SAARC and its Member/Observer to help create South Asian Media Endowment Fund Allocate funds for the creation of a South Asian Media Endowment Fund either out of SAARC Development Fund and/or with the contribution from Member Countries of SAARC. The Endowment Fund can be created with the amount of USD 20.340 million which will be maintained by a regional trust dedicated to the objectives and activities of SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC and their implementing Agency, Free Media Foundation. Two options through which SAFMA is seeking support are: Alternative-I: The funds for South Asian Free Media Endowment Fund be provided by the SAARC Development Fund; And/Or Alternative-II: The Member Countries of SAARC share the funds among themselves.
South Asian Documentary Festivals for SAARC with the support of member countries. 8. SAFMA is also ready to help SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) Program by making them more attractive and popular. SAFMA is prepared to help develop Model Guidelines for trans-national broadcasting in the region with the participation of major stakeholders. 9. SAFMA proposes to SAARC and its member countries that the South Asian Media Centre it has established in Lahore be considered as SAARC's Media Centre. 10. Discourage negative projection of member countries by the media in South Asia. SAFMA is ready to propose professional ethical standards for voluntary adoption by the media outlets and professional media bodies.
South Asian Women in Media
First Regional Conference
SAFMA has also backed leading women journalists in establishing South Asia Women in Media (SAWM) to mainstream gender issues and ensure greater participation of women journalists. SAWM now has a Regional Executive Body with eight National Chapters in the region.
South Asian Policy Analysis (SAPANA) Network Conference April 29-30, 2006, Islamabad, Pakistan
Envisioning South Asia
South Asian Policy Analysis (SAPANA) network -- a virtual think-tank and network of experts, academics and researchers -- has produced the high quality researchbased South Asian Media series consisting of 13 books on major policy issues facing South Asia. Another research-based series consisting of seven books on important regional issues is under preparation and is expected to be published by the end of this year and the start of next year. SAPANA delegates with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz
SAPANA: South Asian Studies Vol. I: Whither South Asia? pp.282, Vol. II: Trade, Tariffs, and Customs in South Asia, pp.248, Vol. III: Macroeconomic Coordination in South Asia, pp.291, Vol. IV: Poverty in South Asia, pp.450, Vol. V: Energy Cooperation in South Asia, pp.280, Vol. VI: Managing South Asia's Waters, pp.230, Vol. VII: Security and Nuclear Stabilisation in South Asia, pp.265, Vol. VIII: Conflict Resolution in South Asia, pp.451, Vol. IX: History and Education in South Asia, pp.252 Vol. X: Religious Revivalism in South Asia, pp.450, Vol. XI: WTO and South Asia, pp.272, Vol. XII: The Media in South Asia, pp.566, Vol. XIII: SAARC, pp.499,
Forthcoming Publications 1. Women/Gender in South Asia 2. Democracy, Ethnicity and Nation-Building in South Asia 3. Militancy and Conflict in South Asia 4. Minorities in South Asia 5. Media in South Asia 6. Human Security in South Asia 7. Education in South Asia
SAFMA's joint media productions have had a positive impact on South Asia. South Asian Journal has completed seven years of publication while keeping its high quality and cross-cutting themes. Top experts, academicians, researchers and editors contribute to the Journal which has a vast subscription across the region. The Journal has focused on major regional and national policy issues to overcome information deficit and create broader understanding on inter and intra state issues.
South Asia Media Commission-I April 1, 2007, New Delhi, India
Founding Conference
South Asian Media Commission
Sarath Knogahe, Chimisel Don, Rajendra Dahal, I. A. Rahman, Imtiaz Alam, N. Ram, K. K. Katyal, Kuldip Nayar, Reazuddin Ahmad, Hamid Mobarez, Adam Miqdad
South Asia Media Commission Conference-II April 1, 2007, New Delhi, India
Safety of Journalists
Ugyen Pelgen from Bhutan, Mizanur Rehman Shelley from Bangladesh, Zia Bumia from Afghanistan, SAMC Secretary General Najam Sethi, Kumar Ketkar from India, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, Afzal Khan from Pakistan, Kishor Shreshta from nepal and U. Abdul Najeem from Sri Lanka
Member of South Asia Media Commission after their annual meeting
SAFMA has helped establish South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) in all the eight countries and at the regional level to monitor the attacks on the press and to audit media content. It has held its two regional conferences that have elected its successive Regional Executive Bodies. Eight National Chapters have also been established with representation from major media bodies and the civil society. South Asia Media Monitor, which covers attacks on journalists and audits media content, has completed five years of publication.
Production House
South Asian Media School (SAMS)
SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, Ambassador of the Netherlands William Andreae, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Ambassador of Norway Aud Marit Wiig and FMF President Munnoo Bhai
South Asian Media School (SAMS) was established to train and educate young journalists from the region, has successfully undertaken five eight-week and two five-week certificate courses so far under the supervision of a superb faculty and international instructors and will be expanding its training program to six-month and one-year Diploma Courses in collaboration with Goldsmiths College, London.
Free Media Production House (FMPH) with one radio and two television studios has been established at the South Asian Media Centre. It has planned a series of documentaries, investigative reports, public debates and cultural programs to promote tolerance, human and women rights, and expose the ugly face of militancy, besides promoting public interests. The production house also provides hands-on training to young journalists from South Asia.
South Asian Documentary Festival audience
Novelist Bapsi Sidhwa and moderator Naveed Shahzad
Moderator Moniza Hashmi, Novelist Muhammad Hanif and reviewer Rashed Rahman
South Asian Documentary Festival: The South Asian Documentary Interactive Festival organized by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) seeks to provide a multi cultural platform of South Asian documentary filmmakers for quality production and viewership. SAFMA has played a significant role in not only highlighting issues of media freedom, but also in promoting understanding and peace among the countries of SAARC. After its successful launch in December 2008 in Kathmandu, Nepal showcasing 30 documentaries from South Asia, SAFMA proposes the Second South Asian Documentary Festival serving as a focal point for South Asian filmmakers, broadcasters, journalists, academics and
international guests to explore the pivotal role of documentary making in our region by exploring existing work and the issues of filmmaking. South Asian Interactive Documentary Festival (SAIDF), aims at drawing attention to the critical role of documentary making in South Asian media in creating awareness of the inter and intra state conflicts in the region and the need for peaceful solutions to conflicts and creating an understanding among various cultures and peoples in the region.
Lahore Film and Literary Club: Recognizing the cultural vacuum in the country and the need to revive the public's interest in art, film, music and literature, SAFMA has set up a film and literary club. As a tribute to the cine-going age and the days of the Pak Tea House /Lahore Coffee House, LFLC is a platform for film and literature enthusiasts, art lovers, and intelligentsia, students and media professionals. LFLC aims at not only exploring established works of arts with the focus on primarily though not solelySouth Asia but also introducing and appreciating emerging talent. The Punjabi Literary Circle at LFLC reads and studies classic works such as of Baba Farid's to the postindependence period of the 20th century. The sessions are designed to cater to those with little understanding of Punjabi language and also Punjabi literature enthusiasts.
The Founders Pakistan
India
Imtiaz Alam Munnoo Bhai Ahmad Bashir (late) Sirmed Manzoor I A Rehman Husain Naqi Prof Khawaja Masud (late) Irshad Ahmed Haqqani (late) M Ziauddin M B Naqvi (late) Shireen Pasha Aroosa Alam Mustansar Javed Nusrat Javeed Dr Jabbar Khattak Rahimullah Yousufzai Saida Fazal Ghazi Salahuddin Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami Agha Nasir Nazir Naji Mushtaq Sufi Beena Sarwar Rashed Rahman Mahesh Kumar Siddique Baloch Anjum Rashid Sohail Warraich Rehana Hakeem Abdul Qadir Hasan Mahesh Kumar Waqar Mustafa
K K Katyal Vinod Sharma Dileep Padgaonkar Sushant Sareen Prem Shankar Jha Bhabhani Sen Gupta Kuldeep Nayar Seema Mustafa Vinod Mehta Kumar Ketkar John Cherian S Nihal Singh Ajit Bhattacharjee Anuradha Jamwal Renu Mittal Mannika Chopra P L Uniyal Prabodh Jamwal Ashish Chakraborty Digant Oza Karan Sawhni Tarun Vijay Shamim Faizi Vijay Naik H K Dua Vinod Dua Ved Bhasin Prabhat Dabral Zaheeruddin Ali Khan Yousaf Jameel John Dayal M K Dhar
Dr Maheeb Singh Rita Manchanda Sumit Chakraborty Zafar Meraj K R Malkani Satnam Singh Manak Vishwa Bandu Gupta
Bangladesh Reazuddin Ahmed Enayatullah Khan Zahiduzzaman Faruque Iqbal Sobhan Chaudhury Rita Rehman Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul Mahbubul Alam Shawkat Mahmood Syed Badrul Ahsan Muni Saha
Nepal Gopal Thapaliya Nirmala Sharma Gokul Pokhrel Shambhu Shreshta Bandana Rana Narayan Waghle Prateek Pradhan
Sri Lanka Laxman Gunesakara Sharmini Boyle
Ranga Kalansooriya N M Ameen Anoma Rajakurna S Vanesaselvan Hana Ibrahim S Kathirgamarthamby
Afghanistan M Haleem Fidai Rahimullah Samander Ehsanullah Aryanzai Farida Nekzad Dr Akbar Akbar Abdul Hamed Mobarez
Bhutan Needrup Zangpo Rinzin Wangchuk Phuntsho Choden Sonam Pelden Gopilal Acharya Kesang Dema
Maldives Aminath Najeeb Mohamed Hilamy Mariyam Sohana Irushada A Sattar
Central Secretariat Team BOARD OF GOVERNORS (BOG) Free Media Foundation (FMF) Mr Munir Ahmed Qureshi (Munno Bhai) President BOG, Chair HR Special Committee
Imtiaz Alam Executive Director, Free Media Foundation Secretary General SAFMA
Secretary BOG
Shahid Kardar
Member, Chair Audit and Finance Committee
SOUTH ASIA MEDIA MONITOR Bushra Sultana Assistant Editor, South Asian Journal
Sirmed Manzoor Bilal Naqeeb Director, Programs
Mahmood Mirza
Zebunnisa Burki Former Executive Editor
Former DED Member
Amara Javed Registrar, SAMS, HR Manager
Anjum Rashid Deputy Director, Free Media Foundation
Husain Naqi
SOUTH ASIAN JOURNAL
Coordinating Editor, Media Monitor
SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET Waqar Mustafa Executive Editor
Azad Kausari (late)
Director, Finance
Former content Editor, SAMN portal
Ghulam Mustafa
Muhammad Akram
Accountant
Assistant Manager, Finance
News Editor
Manager, Administration
Mr. M. Ziauddin, Member Ms. Mehmal Sarfraz, Member Joint Secretary and Nominee SAWM
Huma Sadaf Subeditor
Sarah Tareen
Amjad Ali Subeditor
Asif Butt Office Assistant
Muhammad Adeel Creative Head, Publications
Nominee Secretary General, SAFMA
Moeez Qadri
Lahore Film and Literary Club
Imtiaz-ul-Haq
Najam Sethi, Member Secretary General, SAMC
Imran Riaz
IT Assistant
Khalid Shah
Abbas Rashid Member
Minhaj Sabri
Director, Programming and Marketing
Ms Shireen Pasha Member
PRODUCTION HOUSE
Director
Omar Arshad
Ms Saida Fazal Member
Sadaf Arshad
Mohammad Shafique Network Administrator
SOUTH ASIA MEDIA SCHOOL Khaled Ahmed Director
Moneeza Hashmi Former Consultant, SAMS
Khalid Latif Office Assistant
Logical Framework Matrix: Anticipated Results Impact: Free and responsible media contributes towards tolerance, peace and cooperation in South Asia Outcome 1: Enhanced capacity of media to promote regional peace and development
Outcome 2: Greater utilization of shared knowledge base on South Asian Policy Issues by policy makers and opinion makers
Outcome 3: Enhanced capacity of media to promote and safeguard the rights and responsibilities of journalists through media monitoring and reorientation of young journalists
Outcome 4: Conducive environment for peace, cooperation and tolerance in the region strengthened
Output 1.1 (SAFMA): Expanded and consolidated network of well informed journalists in all eight countries of South Asia with ability to take up selected thematic issues in the region (SAFMA)
Output 2.1: (SAJ/SAPANA): Increased sharing of researchbased knowledge contributing to policy formulation, review and feedback (SAPANA) and quarterly South Asian Journal
Output 3.1 (SAMC): Improved mechanisms of monitoring content and attacks on media (South Asia Media Monitor and South Asian Media Commission)
Output 4.1 (Peace initiatives): Increased level of understanding among major stakeholders, diverse sections and media groups through regional (South Asian Media, experts and Parliamentary moots) bilateral (Pak-Afghan, IndoPak, Bangladesh-India) and sub-regional fora (Punjab-Punjab, Mumbai-Karachi, KashmirKashmir, Peshawar-Kabul, Dhaka-Kolkata, etc.) exchange visits
Output 1.2 (SAWM): Increased sensitivity of media groups to recognize and address gender issues in all aspects
Output 2.2 (SAMN): Improved and greater access to unbiased and contextualized South Asian news and views through a well maintained web portal
Output 3.2 (SAMS): Increased capacities and reorientation of media personnel (esp. youngsters) on regional issues with a South Asian perspective and high ethical standards
Output 4.2 (Curb terrorism): Increased awareness of stakeholders, experts, journalists and parliamentarians of member countries of SAARC to curb terrorism/extremism for regional peace and sustainable cooperation
Output 3.3: (South Asian Media Centre) Increased mobilisation of video documentary filmmakers to undertake the issues of peace, violence, gender, poverty and culture to be promoted and disseminated among the masses
Output 4.3: (Production House) Effective and low cost soft and hard media products for mass awareness and public service developed and widely disseminated and also for sustainability purposes
Output 1.3 South Asian Media Centre (Central Secretariat): Improved programme coordination and management strengthened.
FMF/SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC Organogram SAFMC
SAWM Conference
SAMC Conference
REB SAFMA
REB SAWM
REB SAMC
General Body External Auditor Board of Governors
Executive Director
SAFMA Chapters
SAWM Chapters
SAMC Chapters
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan
India
India
India
Maldives
Maldives
Maldives
Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Director Production House
Finance and Audit Committee
Special Procurement Committee
HR and Recruitment Committee
Internal Auditor
Deputy Executive Director Editor SAJ/SAPANA
Director Programme
Creative Unit Staff
Executive Editor SAJ/SAPANA
Principal Information Officer
Production Staff
Assistant Editor
Chapters' Program Officers
Post Production Staff
2 Research Associates Consulting Editor
Editor MM
Editor SAMN
Director SAMS
Director Finance
H R Manager
1Coordinating Editor
Executive Editor
Marketing Manger
AM - Finance
Coordinator LFLC
2 Sub Editors
6 Associate Editors
Registrar
AM - Accounts
Manager Admin.
1 Rapporteur
Faculty
Chapters' Accountants
2 News Editors IT Admin
2 Assistants 3 sub editors
Library 1 Composer Support Staff
Cafe Assistants
Code Independence Not Embedded-ness Objectivity Not Propaganda
& Peace Peace Not War Talks Not Violence Flexibility Not Rigidity
Neutrality Not Partiality Authenticity Not Speculation All-sidedness Not One-sidedness Caution Not Hate Contextulization Not Stereotyping Respect Not Defamation
Cooperation Not Subjugation
Development Not Militarization Equality Not Hegemony Freedoms Not Repression Simultaneity Not Selectivity Tolerance Not Impatience Appreciation Not Demonization