Afghanistan Imposes News Censorship on Election Day

[tekisui]

Source:NYT

KABUL, Afghanistan — Unnerved by another wave of deadly pre-election attacks by Taliban insurgents including a rocket assault aimed at the presidential palace, the Afghan government on Tuesday ordered unusual restrictions on all news organizations, banning them from reporting suicide bombings and other violence during the Thursday vote.

At least eight people were killed in one of the attacks, a suicide car bombing, including a soldier of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, and two Afghans working for the United Nations mission, and 53 people were wounded, officials said. Of the rockets that hit Kabul early Tuesday morning, one landed on the grounds of the presidential palace and another hit a police station. No one was hurt by the rockets, officials said, but the audacity of the attacks in the heart of the capital demonstrated the power of the insurgents to disrupt and intimidate.

Even as the government, and United States and NATO forces have worked hard to secure polling centers in violence-prone southern Afghanistan, they find themselves increasingly locked in a propaganda battle with the Taliban, as it wages a campaign of fear to deter voters.

The Taliban has issued repeated warnings in statements to the press — the most recent emailed to reporters by a spokesman Monday — and carried out two massive suicide car bombings and rocket attacks on the capital in two days, to create a sense of fear to keep voters at home.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/asia/19afghan.html?hp

[grantcart]

1. NYT has really become very pedestrian

There is a rather significant distinction between a 'news blackout' for one day and imposing censorship.

[tekisui]

3. Blocking news of violence to, ostensibly keep voter turnout

numbers high, potentially putting people's lives at greater risk isn't a very helpful practice. Regardless of whether it is just a one day subject based blackout.

[grantcart]

4. I believe that taking away the public platform for advertising violence

is done, ostensibly, to reduce the incentive for violence, thus reducing the number of innocent killed.

[tekisui]

5. I hope that you are right.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Another glorious victory for imposed "democracy". K&R

[tekisui]

6. I hope this news blackout doesn't extend past election day.

If there are widespread protests against the election results and violence against demonstrators, will it be blacked out as well?