Two journalists held in different cases speak out after being freed

Reporters Without Borders is relieved that journalist Laxman Choudhury of the daily Sambad was finally freed on bail yesterday after being held for ten weeks in Gajapati district in the eastern state of Orissa. Released on the orders of the Orissa high court, he is still facing a sedition charge because the local police found Maoist leaflets in his possession. On leaving prison, Choudhury thanked all of his colleagues who campaigned for his release. Reporters Without Borders wrote to the governor of Orissa state on 6 November requesting his release. The press freedom organisation also helped his family. more infos : http://www.rsf.org/Reporter-who-accused-local-police.html Reporters Without Borders has meanwhile interviewed A.S. Mani, the editor of the Tamil weekly Naveena Netrikkan, who was released on 27 November after being held for a month in Chennai prison, in the southeastern state of Tamil Nadu, on a defamation charge. RWB: Tell us about the circumstances of your arrest and detention. ASM: I was arrested at home by police from the city of Madurai, who beat me as they drove me to Madurai and forced me to sign two blank sheets of paper. At first I refused but I was beaten, so I had no choice but to sign. Without taking me before a Madurai court, they held me in an AR ground for several hours. When I was finally taken to a magistrate's house, I asked to be held in a prison in Chennai rather than Madurai because of the possibility of harassment in Madurai. So the magistrate sent me to Chennai. I was safe in the Chennai prison without any tension or problems with the conditions. RWB: Why do you think the authorities took so long to release you? ASM: It was due entirely to political pressure. My requests for release on bail kept on being rejected on invalid grounds. But eventually, after continuous efforts and support from the media, they had to release me on bail. RWB: What does this case represent for press freedom in India? ASM: A good question. The fourth pillar of the Indian constitution is the press, but these days press freedom and press rights are being considerably curtailed by political pressures, particularly in Tamil Nadu. The press is not able to expose the evil at the roots of the society. The chief minister of Tamil Nadu proudly says he belongs to the press family but he is responsible for injustices being done to the press. I am not the only victim. Many press workers have been arrested in the past few months. My case has set an example of press unity in Tamil Nadu. It showed what we can achieve if we are united. "The pen is mightier than sword." So we should take a united stand and work together for the freedom of the press. RWB: As the charges have not been dropped, what do you think will happen next? ASM: Yes, the charges are still pending. I will have to keep attending the court proceedings until the case is completely over. If the press keeps supporting me and putting pressure on the authorities, I could soon be completely free. I would once again like to express my whole-hearted thanks to the Reporters Without Borders team for the great support it has shown me. Let’s all keep working together for freedom of the press. More infos : http://www.rsf.org/Editor-released-after-a-month-in.html