Trans-boundary journalism

“China already has experience of running community radios. They can play the role of an early warning system. China lies in the upstream amd if they can forsee any disaster they can inform us. We can do this as we have one thing in common - the river,”  TERESA REHMAN on a climate change workshop involving journalists of three countries. Pix: the Yarlung Zangbo

Posted/Updated Sunday, Oct 23 11:42:46, 2011

Compared to the Ganges, it’s one of the least reported rivers though it drains the entire Eastern Himalayas. The Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra Basin is a trans-boundary river system and is an integral part of the lives of people living in three different countries – China, India and Bangladesh. And of late there have been some apprehensions over China building big dams on the upper reaches of the river system which has created misgivings in downstream countries like India and Bangladesh. This can mainly be attributed to lack of information and media reports on the developments along the banks of the river in these three different countries.     In fact, this lack of information about the river system can also lead to catastrophic results. For instance, in June 2000, a huge landslide on the Yigong Zangbo river (the upper stream of the Brahmaputra), in the east of Tibet led to flash floods in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam leading to an estimated property loss of not less than a billion rupees, 30 deaths and more than 100 people missing and more than 50,000 homeless. Partha J Das, climate expert from Aaranyaak, an NGO says, “A lot of the disaster could have been averted if this was widely publicized by media outlets in both the countries.”   Recently, the “Tibetan Review”, a monthly magazine wrote, “The media in India have reacted happily Oct 14 to China’s claim that it will not divert water from the Yarlung Tsangpo river in occupied Tibet to its parched provinces in the north-east, or even Xinjiang in the north-west, especially due to its “possible impact on state-to-state relations”. The Indianexpress.com said the statement would likely come as a relief to India. And the Timesofindia.indiatimes.com called it a rare admission which will be welcomed in India.   In a bid to usher in some kind of mutual exchange of ideas between the three countries, the Third Pole Project of China dialogue and Internews’ Earth Journalism Network organized a media workshop on Climate Change Effects in the Yarlung Zangbo/Brahmaputra Basin for journalists from Bangladesh, China and India recently. Katherine Eaton of Internews says, “It is possible to close your borders to anything political or economic but not to the environment. In fact, talking about the environment can even be an incentive for peace.”    For the first time, Indian and Bangladeshi journalists got an opportunity to hear a Chinese scientist Dr Yang Yong, who had for the first time tried to explore the treacherous parts of the river system by rafting through the river. He displayed some rare photographs which showed desertification in parts of the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river which could be effects of climate change.   The lack of data on this river system and lack of  agreement of these two countries to share information or even early warning systems has led to many misunderstandings. Bharatlal Seth of Down To Earth magazine in India says, “I still think the regional Indian media covers it and the national media picks up a lot from the regional media.” Sobhapati Samom, an Indian journalist based in Manipur feels it is important that journalists of these three countries come together and share information. “It also helps us to dispel many myths,” he adds.   The Bangladesh media is also keen on a trans-boundary sharing of information. G.M Mourtaza, chief co-ordinator of Radio Padma, the first community radio station of Bangladesh says, “We read about this river system as isolated incidents. We need to collate and connect one event with another. In fact, we can have a network of community radio to share information. China already has a long-standing experience of running community radios. We can share information online. They can in turn relay it on their airwaves and even play the role of an early warning system. China lies in the upstream amd if they can forsee any disaster they can inform us. We can do this as we have one thing in common – the river.”   Another journalist Ruhul Amin Rushd, senior news editor of Bangla Vision Television used to report on climate change and the environment mainly concentrating on the Ganges. After the Ganges, another much-talked about river is the Teesta. But the Brahmaputra has somehow been ignored by the media in Bangladesh. “We keep having devastating floods in our country and I am not sure if this is in anyway connected to any developments in the upstream. It is pertinent to co-operate with each other and share information on the trans-boundary rivers that flow through the countries,” he says.   Water is such an issue that wars have been fought over it. But the common people are not interested in the politics over water. People want water for their basic needs, does not matter who has more or less or does everyone has enough. Beth Walker, Editor of Third Pole, “I have been struck by how little understanding between the three countries. We seem to just get polarized views. It is important to share stories, concerns, ideas and reshape the whole debate on the river.”   The Chinese journalists too were intrigued by the misunderstanding created by the media. Wan Li, a Chinese journalist says, “I spoke to some Indian friends and I know there are misgivings among the media and local people of the downstream countries. This kind of exchange programme helps in sending across the message back home on the effects of the mismanagement of the information system to the affected countries. We read about the floods in Bangladesh but without any linkages to China.   Joydeep Gupta, director of the Third Pole Project, a project of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and China Dialogue that seeks to improve coverage of climate change issues in the Himalayan region and downstream wants to make this interaction among journalists of these three different countries a sustained effort. “We want this river system to be reported more frequently. Journalists can always share information through listserves and be connected online,” he says.   (Teresa Rehman is a journalist based in Northeast India).

`Divisive' media report sparks row

“Come One, Come All” was the slogan at the Nyishi Dignity Rally on September 13. A report in the Times of India which was critical of the Nyishi tribe has brought the community together in a concerted effort to get to the root of the story. TERESA REHMAN reports. Pix: The rally at Itanagar

Posted/Updated Thursday, Sep 15 18:24:14, 2011

After waiting for justice for several months the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh came out in a huge rally at Itanagar to demand action on a report they dubbed as being communally insensitive and aimed at dividing the state. “Come One, Come All” was the slogan at the Nyishi Dignity Rally on September 13. Scores of people from the tribe, the single largest tribe of the state, thronged the state capital with umbrellas to beat the scorching heat at the rally organized by the All Nyishi Student’s Union (ANSU) and the Nyishi Elite Society (NES). The cause of their ire was a report which had ‘derogatory’ remarks against the Nyishis published in The Times of India on May 4. This news report by Pradeep Thakur is alleged to have drawn a wedge between the different tribes of the state and the protestors smell a larger political conspiracy, including the involvement of the present chief minister Jarbom Gamlin. The report stated that Nabam Tuki, who was a frontrunner in the race for the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister’s post after the death of Dorjee Khandu, belonged to the "Nyishi tribe, which doesn't enjoy a good rapport among other tribes". The massive rally was organized after five months of protests including three bandh calls by the ANSU. They gave a seven-day ultimatum to the government to solve the issue and meet their main demands - immediate arrest of Thakur, unconditional apology, revelation of source of derogatory remarks and detailed call records of his two phone numbers. The protests started right after the report was published. ANSU had lodged an FIR with Arunachal Pradesh Director General of Police demanding Thakur’s arrest for disturbing communal peace. On May 13 ANSU had submitted memorandum demanding an enquiry and action. As a knee-jerk reaction, a committee headed by Minister of Health and Family Welfare Attum Welly, was formed. The government also formed a second committee headed by state Home Minister Takar Marde but it could come to no logical conclusion. On the other hand, the Times of India Group has pulled down the content that offended the Nyishi Community and has apologized on May 26, 2011. They wrote, “We wish to state that the report, which has since been removed from the website, was based on the assessment in political circles here, and that we did not intend to hurt the sentiments of Nyishis or any other community. We regret any offence that we may have inadvertently caused and wish the best to the people of Arunachal Pradesh.” Thakur has also tendered an unconditional apology but the agitated tribes have not been pacified as the source of the remarks has not been divulged nor have the details of call records been given. Organisations like the All Mishmi Students Union(AMSU) and Dibang Adi Students Union (DASU) also condemned the news report by Thakur. "This sort of negative mindset by mainland Indian people does not augur well for a secular country like India," DASU stated in a press release. In a poignant comment to the media, the president of the ANSU said, “India is a democratic country. Each one of us has our own set of responsibilities including the media which has been endorsed by the Constitution of India. The strength of the Constitution lies on ‘We the People’. And you can see the people here.” Interestingly, this mass rally against a media report was extensively covered by the local and regional media. In fact, NETV, a satellite channel aired from Guwahati even covered the rally live. And one of the organizers of the rally was effusive in thanking the print and electronic media for their support.