India deports US journalist for reporting on Kashmir

[Neo]

India deports US journalist for reporting on Kashmir

NEW DELHI: As the Indian government scurried to deal with a growing outrage about unmarked mass graves unearthed in Kashmir, it deported an American journalist on Friday who was known for his critical reporting of human rights violations in the Himalayan region.

Airport sources said David Barsamian, a radio journalist who has worked closely with Noam Chomsky, Eqbal Ahmed and Edward Saeed, was deported on his arrival at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport when he was accused of having violated visa norms during his previous visit to the country.

They alleged that he violated the rules during his visit in 2009-10 by indulging in professional work while holding a tourist visa. He was thereafter put on a watch by the immigration authorities to prevent his entry again.

Mr Barsamian has visited India regularly for more than three decades and speaks fluent Hindi and Urdu. He has reported extensively on the Kashmir resistance against Indian rule in their Himalayan homeland.

He is an accomplished sitar player.

Last November India deported Prof Richard Shapiro, an American academic, on charges of continued “political activism in the state while on a tourist visa”. More recently it has proactively blocked the entry of Indian journalists and human rights workers into Kashmir.

Prof Shapiro’s partner Angana Chatterji is involved with the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir, which was the first whistleblower about the mass graves.

Ms Chatterji, an Indian citizen, was travelling with Prof Shapiro when he was denied entry.

India deports US journalist for reporting on Kashmir | Newspaper | DAWN.COM

[Jihad]

Interesting, talking about the "world's biggest democracy", press freedom is hard to find.

[vinod2070]

Probably the last set of people we need a certificate from. On democracy and secularism!

[Neo]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

Probably the last set of people we need a certificate from. On democracy and secularism!

I understand your sarcasm mate but would appreciate to see your comment on the event. Deporting a journalist in a secular and democratic country doesn't go well in free media.

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Neo

I understand your sarcasm mate but would appreciate to see your comment on the event. Deporting a journalist in a secular and democratic country doesn't go well in free media.

Flouting visa norms definitely makes him eligible for deportation.

Happens all the time all over the world, including in Pakistan when foreigner journalists are caught in the "sensitive areas".

[Neo]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

Flouting visa norms definitely makes him eligible for deportation.

Happens all the time all over the world, including in Pakistan when foreigner journalists are caught in the "sensitive areas".

I wonder if he had applied for a proper visa (work, journalism) he would have been provided with one. He's been put under watch, not for violating visa regulation during his previous visit but probably for his stance on Kashmir. It's not the first incident involving a journalist in Kashmir Affairs...they are not wanted there!

[Neo]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

Flouting visa norms definitely makes him eligible for deportation.

Indeed and he should have been deported in the first place. With a 'deported' stamp in the passport one can not apply for any kind of visa for that country for atleast 5 years. He's a known journalist, your Embassy should have questioned and warned him before granting another visa.

[vinod2070]

Well India is well within its rights to decide who should be allowed in any part of the country. Not sure what the objection could be to that.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by vinod2070

Well India is well within its rights to decide who should be allowed in any part of the country. Not sure what the objection could be to that.

Ofcourse as a souvreign country you're within your rights to decide who's allowed into your country. But abusing this right to refuse visa's to journalists who've critical view doesn't suit a decmocratic and secular country. This is what probably Jihad meant in his post...

[vinod2070]

Originally Posted by Neo

Ofcourse as a souvreign country you're within your rights to decide who's allowed into your country. But abusing this right to refuse visa's to journalists who've critical view doesn't suit a decmocratic and secular country. This is what probably Jihad meant in his post...

I am not sure how exercising a simple right equates to abusing it.

Looking after the national interests and saving lives of Indians (Kashmiri Indians in this case) is the top priority of GOI. We don't need certificates of democracy and secularism from anyone.

Nor do we need to convince anyone about our democracy and secularism. They stand on their own right.