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Connecting Communities through Community Broadcasting and ICTs

Presented by: Mohammad Eshaq

Community Radio and development In Afghanistan

Ladies and gentlemen:

I want to thank the organizers of this workshop for inviting me to speak to you about the prospects of community radio stations in and their contribution to the development in postwar Afghanistan.

Before discussing community radio in Afghanistan, I want to present a summary of the media situation in the country five years after the fall of the Taliban regime through the intervention of the US and its allies.

Since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, the media in Afghanistan has undergone considerable changes. The desire of the Afghan people for a change and the international community's support for media development are the two major factors behind the changes in the media sector.

Media development in Afghanistan, however, has had both positive and negative aspects, which I will briefly discuss here:

Positive developments:

On the positive side, the media has had very fast growth. Hundreds of papers are being published and tens of radio and TV stations have been established. Access to the Internet in the cities has become affordable, and mobile technology, for the first time in the history of the country, has connected the towns and villages to the cities and to the outside world.

Freedom of expression has been guaranteed by the constitution and the people have access to the information about the performance of the government on a scale that had no precedent in the history of the country.

Afghan journalists have gained more experience through training, interaction with foreign journalists, exchange programs and working for international media.

Competition between the government-owned and private media has resulted in presenting people-oriented programs. In general, the private media have shown a better understanding of the taste of the people for information and entertainment.

The activities of foreign media in Afghanistan and the fact that their coverage of events reaches the people of Afghanistan, has discouraged the government from limiting the freedom of the national media. The government knows that the information it wants to suppress will reach the people through international media, so the government does not limit the access of the national media to that information.

As far as content is concerned, the Afghan media has made some progress in initiating serious debates about the issues facing the country. Private TV and radio stations openly discuss hot issues facing the country in their roundtable conferences. These programs are generally critical of the performance of the government and the policies of the coalition forces in the country and of the aid policy of the UN and the international community. The private media continue to reflect the views of the Taliban insurgents by broadcasting interviews with their commanders, despite the government's request that the media not give a propaganda platform to insurgents and terrorists.

Afghans now have access to international radio and TV news. Many Western countries have their own radio stations in Afghanistan and broadcast special TV programs for Afghanistan. Recently, the government banned rebroadcasts of Aljazira news by a private TV station citing cultural and technical issues. But it is believed that the real motive behind the decision was to please the Americans. The government finally was forced to withdraw its ban order. Afghans have also made a lot of progress in the field of dubbing foreign films. Some dubbed TV serials are very popular in Afghanistan.

The government of Afghanistan deserves the credit for the initial freedom awarded to the media. The good relationship between the media and the government was based on the fact that both national and international media supported the policies of the government. But the situation has changed. The national media has become more critical of the government's performance and some of its policies. The government attitude towards the media has also changed. Government is now trying to limit the media's freedom, which has resulted in a confrontation between the two.

Another positive development is the ability of some media outlets to finance their activities. Ariana radio and TV stations belong to the Afghan Wireless Company. Some other private TV and radio stations generate enough revenues to remain in business. But this does not apply to all media outlets. Publications do not generate enough money to survive. They need financial support. Many publications stopped because of economic problems. Government-run media rely on government funding.

Negative Developments:

The greatest problems facing the media are physical threats to journalists and changing government attitudes. Some weeks ago an Afghan journalist and an Italian reporter, who were traveling together in the south of the county, were captured by the Taliban. The Government secured the release of the Italian journalist by releasing five ranking prisoners of the Taliban, but refused to secure the release of the Afghan journalist, Ajamal Naqshbandi, who was later beheaded by the Taliban.

Acts of violence against the media are not limited to insurgents. The government recently sent scores of police to a private TV station to arrest a journalist and its managers, accusing them of misquoting the attorney general. They were treated harshly before being released under public pressure. Similar incidents have been reported involving powerful people and even coalition forces.

The government of Hamid Karzay has taken some steps to limit the freedom of the media. Circulation of a directive by the national security directorate forbidding the media to criticize foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan is a good example of the changing government attitude towards the media. Disputes between the ministry of culture and former General Director of Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA) is another example. Former RTA's director Mr. Roshan had brought changes in the format of programs presented by RTA. Theses changes had the backing of UNESCO and some European countries, but were not endorsed by the Ministry of Culture. The row resulted in the resignation of Mr. Roshan.

Some people within the government argue that since the country is at war with insurgents, it can not afford having a critical media. They also argue that the government has to have a voice. They say the national TV and radio and government-owned press should reflect the views of the government. Because of this type of thinking, the plan to change RTA from a government-controlled media to a public media has been shelved. Moreover, the government's concerns about security and its interpretation of "national interests" has become a problem for the media because the law governing the activity of the media is not specific and there is no credible independent body to which the media may take their complaints.

Afghanistan's media suffer from another weakness, that is its dependence on foreign aid. Aid always comes attached with some strings. This is why some programs presented to the people that are against people's culture are shown to promote foreign ideals. Such programs do not enrich people's lives. Most of the programs are also designed to cater to the needs of people living in the cities, especially Kabul, and ignore the needs of those living in rural areas.

Lack of attention to educational programs is also common among government-controlled and private media. Education is the cornerstone of development. But the media pay little attention to educational programs. There are some educational programs, but the time and space given to them is very limited and the programs are superficial. If the Afghan media want to play a positive role in the development of the country, they need to give time to educational programs and these programs should be made with the help education experts. The international community can play an important role in providing educational programs to the Afghan media. It would be a good investment for the development of the country.

Some of the cultural programs presented by the media are not made for an Islamic community. Since there is little production inside the country, programs produced outside the county fill most of the time on radio and TV stations. When objectionable entertainment programs are broadcasted, the government is blamed for lack of attention to the sensitivities of the society. In a post-war country facing an insurgency, it could turn into a serious political and security issue.

Both government and private media suffer from low language skills. This problem results from the poor state of education in the county. It will take many years and a lot of planning and resources to correct this problem.

Community Radio in Afghanistan

Radio is the cheapest and most practical way of mass communication in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has an illiteracy rate of 70 percent (85 percent among women) and a large rural population. Very few households have access to electricity. But most Afghans have access to radio receivers. They are battery-operated and quite cheap (as low as one dollar per set). Afghan people are used to listening to radio. People listen to radio while they work on their forms or they are on the move.

The first radio station was built in Kabul some 65 years ago. Until the end of year 2001 radio broadcasting was a monopoly of the state. After the fall of the Taliban, a new media law was passed allowing the establishment of private and independent radios. Since then, scores of private and independent radios stations have been established throughout the country. Foreign countries that have a military presence in Afghanistan have their own radio transmitters.

Radio stations operating in Afghanistan can be divided into four categories:

1- State-controlled Radio. This radio has been and is the main communication tool of the state. It is based in Kabul and has many provincial branches. It broadcasts in AM, shortwave, and FM bands. Its budget is provided by the state and its employees are appointed by the ministry of culture. Although it has become politically more open, the government still exerts full control over its activities. Radio Afghanistan is facing competition from recently-established private media. It is loosing its capable journalists to private and international organizations which pay high salaries. Provincial radio stations operated by RTA are mainly FM stations donated by foreign countries. Due to the mountainous nature of the country and the low power of transmitters, most of these radio stations are not receivable a few kilometers outside the provincial capitals. RTA wanted to build regional AM stations that could cover three to five provinces, but this plan could not be implemented due to a lack of interest on the part of donors. Before the establishment of satellite links between the center and the provinces, programs made at the center were sent by courier to provincial stations. Since two years ago, satellite links with the provincial stations have been established with the help of the Government of India.

2- Private Radio Stations: The establishment of private radio stations was a new experience in the field of broadcasting in Afghanistan. Some business-minded individuals returning from exile established these stations. Their entertainment programs and style of news presentation are quite popular among people, especially among youth. Some of these radio stations belong to big businesses, others fund themselves by making money from advertising. Some of these private stations initially received equipment and money form international donors under programs designed to promote press freedom and enhance democracy. Private stations have absorbed a considerable number of journalists belonging to RTA by offering them higher salaries. Using satellite links, their programs are also fed to their regional stations.

3- Foreign Radio Stations: Foreign countries with a major military presence in Afghanistan have their own radio broadcasts. BBC, VOA (under the name of Radio Liberty), Voice of Germany, Turkish Radio, Radio France International, the Voice of Freedom of ISAF and others broadcast daily programs in Afghanistan. The BBC has established FM stations in many provinces. All these stations are funded from the money donated for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and is spent by the donors themselves. It is worth mentioning that the educational programs of the BBC and some non-political programs of VOA are useful.

4- Independent Radio Stations: These radio stations are established with help from some foreign NGOs. They include Radio Peace in Parwan Province, Voice of Afghan Women, Radio Campus run by the faculty of journalism of Kabul University, Herat University Radio and more than 40 FM station established by Inter News, a US-based NGO in various parts of Afghanistan.

If community radio is defined to be community-based, independent and participatory, the group of independent radios in Afghanistan is very close to this definition. The community here has more do with geography. Most of the radio stations established by Inter News are given to communities separated by mountains and hills. There are also a few radio stations which belong to women or universities, which are based in Kabul or other major cities. The legal owners of these radio stations are their operators, who are paid by Inter News. The idea of community ownership is not strange in Afghanistan. There are many things that do not belong either to the government or individuals. Mosques, forests, irrigation channels, local roads, cemeteries, pastures and even mines belong to the whole community. Although the law gives ownership of some of these to the government, in practice the local communities make use of them collectively. Government ownership of these things has a symbolic nature. Therefore, collective ownership of a radio station is not something new, although it might be registered in the name of an individual.

As far as the independence of these stations is concerned, they might be more independent at the start when their budget comes from an NGO. When the grace period ends and control of the radio station is handed over to the Afghan staff, maintaining the independence of the station becomes a challenge. It is possible that control of such stations will fall into the hands of local influential people in return for their economic support to the station. In a county where the rule of law is not fully established and law is not very specific about running these stations, one cannot count on the support of the government for preservation of their independence. Powerful individuals could pose a threat to the independence of a community radio, but the threat from local government officials could be even greater. If the people are educated about the importance of community radio's independence, they might support the stations against infringements by official and non-official individuals.

Participation of the community in shaping the policies and programs of community radio is a must in order to allow them to function properly. As a result of three decades of war and fighting amongst different sections of the society, the atmosphere in the country is highly charged. There are suspicions about the intentions of those Afghans who have returned from abroad in the minds of people living in rural areas. In some cases, the problems arise from a failure in communication. Both sides might want the same thing, but they talk about it in different ways and argue among themselves. This makes it necessary to take into account the feelings of the communities while the policies are being made.

This is also true about the type of programs the station is broadcasting and the format and language used in the program. People have a reason to be suspicious because the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and called it support to the people of Afghanistan. The behavior of foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan has not been reassuring to the people either. One way to minimize the risk to the community radio stations is to avoid sensitive political and cultural issues, and those who have radical social and political agendas should not be allowed to run the stations.

Programs broadcasted by community radio stations can vary from place to place. Community radio programs should have a local fragrance and flavor. But a lot of programs in health, education, good governance, mining, and farming can be the same for all stations. Programs should be development- oriented in the full meaning of the term. The following are some of the major topics that community radios could address in order to help development in the country:

1- Education is the basic need of the society. Education for boys and girls should be encouraged. Since there are few capable teachers in rural areas, community radio could be used to teach people basic subjects. In an Islamic society teaching people good manners will be more effective if the teaching is based on Islamic examples.

2- The health sector needs a lot of attention. People should be told how to protect themselves from fatal diseases. Protecting people against malaria, tuberculoses, diarrhea and other infectious diseases is very important. Warning people of waterborne diseases and showing people how to make their water safe for drinking is a great help to having a healthy community. Teaching people how to keep clean prevents the spread of diseases. Community radio should be used to inform people about upcoming children's and mass immunization programs.

3- Afghanistan's economy is based on agriculture. All community radio stations in the countryside should have meaningful agricultural programs. Three decades of war has created a lot of problems for the agriculture sector. Farmers need to know how to fight plant diseases and how to treat their animals. Since there are not enough experts to speak about these issues in rural areas, it would be a good idea to produce agricultural programs centrally and give them to community radio stations. Each station can add a local flavor to these programs. This is can be applied to educational and health programs as well.

4- In rural areas of Afghanistan, the lack of good roads is a major problem for economic development. People should be encouraged to help the government in building roads. In areas where farm land is limited, people are reluctant to allow a road pass through their neighborhood. By explaining the social, health and economic benefits of roads, they could be encouraged to allow road building. In areas where new roads have been built, people should be encouraged to protect them.

5- Afghanistan is very rich in minerals. Some minerals are extracted by local people, but the methods they use destroy the value of their product. We have the finest emeralds in the whole world, but due to crude mining techniques a lot of emerald crystals are being destroyed. The situation is the same with ruby, lapis lazuli, aquamarine and other precious stones. Community radio stations could play a role in persuading miners to invest in better mining techniques and the government should be encouraged to be sympathetic to hard-working miners.

6- Good governance is a must for development. Community radio stations can educate people in the art of running the government. They can describe the rights and duties of both the government and the people. They should encourage people to take part in elections at the national and local levels. Community radio could bring down people's unrealistic expectations by explaining to them what is possible and what is not possible. Unrealistically high expectations could ferment harmful ill feelings against the government that could prove disastrous to security and stability.

7- Community radio stations should play a role in bringing people of different sections of the society closer to each other. This is a very important service to the community and the country in a post conflict situation. No development could take place without security, and security requires reconciliation between warring groups. Revenge does not bring reconciliation.

8- Programs presented by community radio stations should help to preserve the cultural diversity of the country. People in Afghanistan speak many languages, and communities in different parts of the country have their own distinct cultural backgrounds. Attempts by politicians to force cultural unity across the county could harm national unity. Community radio could help in preserving local cultures. These radio stations should also fight the negative effects of foreign cultures. The negative effects have widened the gap between government and the society, and people blame the government for bringing negative things to the society. The cultural area is very sensitive in an Islamic and traditional society like Afghanistan. The on-going insurgency in some parts of the country makes this even more sensitive. Those running community radio stations should take these issues very seriously. Cultural issues have resulted in the downfall of several governments in the past, and it is a challenge for the present government, too.

I would like to end my discussion with the following statement: Community radio is an important tool for development. If run properly, it will help communities to develop faster. The international community should help establish more community radio stations in Afghanistan and should persuade the government of Afghanistan to help these radio stations without risking their independence. Technical training for the staff of these radio stations will always be needed.

Thank you for your attention!

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