Afghan Media Face Threat of Controls

AFGHAN MEDIA FACE THREAT OF CONTROLS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Carlotta Gall]
Afghanistan’s government, competing with the Taliban for public support and trying to fend off accusations that it is corrupt and ineffective, is moving to curb one of its own most impressive achievements: the country’s flourishing independent news media. Under President Hamid Karzai, a 1960s media law was updated and has been considered the most liberal in the region. Six independent television channels have begun broadcasting, and dozens of radio stations and newspapers are now operating. All news media outlets were under government control under the Taliban government, which was ousted in late 2001. Yet for the past year, as the government has sought to counter growing public dissatisfaction, it has tried to impose more controls over the news media, journalists and human rights officials said. Parliament is now considering amendments that the critics warn could undo many of the gains made since the fall of the Taliban.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/07/world/asia/07afghanmedia.html
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* Afghan News Media Find Foes on All Sides
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050601160.html
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