KABUL (SW): In conversation with Salam Watandar, a number of journalists charged media right organizations for exploiting their vulnerabilities to gain funds but doing nothing for their welfare.
Zahra Joya, a journalist in the capital Kabul, said in this regard that a number of non-government organizations claiming to be working for the welfare of the journalist community are actually more interested in earning a fortune. Mumtaz Baheer, another journalist in the capital agreed with this notion. Baheer added that working journalists have been left wondering which organization to approach for help.
Meanwhile, Nai, a local press freedom organization, has argued that under an umbrella of the journalists’ federation, some 15 organizations are united to fight for the rights of the community. Siddiqullah Tawhidi, director at Nai, told Salam Watandar that they have been working in close collaboration with this federation for the past three years, and the outcome has been encouraging.
Tawhidi added that in this period, the federation has not obtained foreign funding, and has instead managed all on its own. He added that some of the concerns that the journalists have are beyond the mandate of the federation.
Raheemullah Samandar, head of the independent journalists’ federation, believed that most of the cases of violence against journalists are not thoroughly pursued. He added the large number of parallel organizations working in this regard have also caused confusions among the journalists.
ENDS
