KABUL (SW) – Journalists in the capital Kabul say access to information remains limited despite assurances by the Islamic Emirate authorities.
A number of journalists say that the officials of the Islamic Emirate do not provide them with information in a timely manner. According to them, while preparations are being made for a large meeting, government spokesmen do not provide any information to the media.
Dawood Mubarak Oglu, a reporter for Salam Watandar, says it has been two days since a letter was issued on social media regarding the proposed Loya Jirga, but officials were not sharing more details about it. “There is a serious need, especially for such a national process, for which the government must respond so that the people know the details.”
Taj Wali Ghorzang, a correspondent for Radio Kilid, and Mansour Niazi, a correspondent for Al-Jazeera, said that the media needed information and that government officials should provide information to the media in a timely manner.
According to them, if the officials do not inform the media and the people, the gap between the people and the government may widen. “Unfortunately, in the last few months, journalists have been having difficulty accessing information. Sometimes, journalists wait for days for a news item or short report to have the voice of government officials.”
Meanwhile, Zarif Karimi, a member of the Federation of Journalists and Media Organisation of Afghanistan, says that although access to information is a legal right of journalists, it is not taken into account in Afghanistan.
According to him, some government officials violate the law on access to information and delay the provision of accurate information or do not pay any attention to it. “We have repeatedly asked the officials of the caretaker government, the Ministry of Information and Culture, through press conferences, announcements and messages not to fail to provide information.”
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