Acknowledgment and Compliments

To all those visionaries, media persons, political leaders, civil society activists, funding partners, Norway and the Netherlands, and all those well-wishers and

supporters who made SAFMA's arduous journey easy in pursuing its dream of creating a South Asian fraternity

and moving towards a South Asian Union and a free media above all divides.

Special compliments to those who silently backed up SAFMA's endeavours

from the Central Secretariat.

Imtiaz AlamFounding Secretary GeneralSAFMA

Excellency Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistani“India is fully committed to removing barriers to the exchange of “I compliment SAFMA and its Secretary General Imtiaz Alam and goods, people and ideas within our region. The media can be an my good friend Nusrat Javeed for taking a timely initiative. I important catalyst of this process. I hope that SAFMA, as one of appreciate all efforts for promoting understanding and cooperation the existing forums for interaction of senior media persons from in the region.”

(Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-Ithe SAARC countries, would utilize the Journalists Summit to Islamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009)discuss the importance of the free flow of information, media

personnel and media products within the SAARC region.” (SAARC Journalists Summit III, New Delhi, India, April 1-2, 2007)

Ms Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister & Chairperson, Pakistan Peoples Party

Madam Sonia Gandhi, President, All India Congress “It is a pivotal moment in the history of the people of South Asia at the dawn of new millennium that the impetus for peace is at our

“SAFMA has played a significant role in bringing the nations of the doorsteps once again. I believe sustainable peace is possible with region closer through the exchange and flow of information and true democracy. I dream of triumph of democracy, pluralism, ideas. The Summit will be another step in this direction.” tolerance, understanding and accommodation in our region SAARC Journalists Summit III, New Delhi, India, April 1-2, 2007

trusting in your (SAFMA's) ability to make history.”(SAFMA: Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists and Experts Conference, Islamabad, Pakistan August 10-11, 2003)

Madam Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Prime Minister of Bangladesh“ I wish the success of this SAFMA initiative, as I believe the media and the civil society can supplement the efforts of South Asian

Excellency Madav Kumar Nepal, Prime Minister of Nepalpolitical leadership in resolving conflicts and promoting regional “SAFMA's continuous endeavours towards establishing South Asian cooperation and integration.”parliament are praiseworthy and commendable.”(SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian ParliamentSAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: Shimla, India, June 2-3, 2007Islamabad/Bhurban, May 15-20, 2005)

Excellency Jigmi Y. Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan Excellency Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan“For me, as an admirer of your (SAFMA's) work, it is a privilege to “The first international conference between parliamentarians, have the opportunity to address such a powerful group of leaders social organisations and editors of both the countries is taking place of South Asia's media community whose impact and reputations for further strengthening relations. Terrorism, which has created extend far beyond our region. The concept of a shared problems for the people in the region, can be defeated by consciousness tells us that we can only realise such a vision through cooperation and a joint war against terrorism and in this way the media.” peace could be maintained in both countries. I appreciate the (Fifth SAARC Journalists Summit, April 26, 27, 2010 Paro, initiative and efforts of SAFMA for providing such a valuable Bhutan)

opportunity.” (Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-I, Islamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009)

Excellency Atal Behari Vajpayee, Excellency Pervez Musharraf, Former President of PakistanFormer Prime Minister of India “I renew an earlier assurance given to SAFMA to allow free “We should not defy logic and distort reality to avoid movement of journalists from SAARC, including India, to all mutually beneficial cooperation. We cannot deny our people parts of Pakistan.”

SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliament, their right to peaceful and cooperative economic Islamabad/Bhurban, May 15-20, 2005development. If your (SAFMA's) meetings and deliberations

can encourage a movement towards such a cooperative future for our two countries, they would serve a noble cause.”

L K Advani, Leader of the Opposition, Lok SabhaSAFMA: Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists and Experts Conference Islamabad, Pakistan August 10-11, 2003 “I want to compliment SAFMA for spreading the message fo

South Asian fraternity through various initiatives. These initiatives have the potential to make a far-reaching impact. It would not be an exaggeration to say that by sketching the scenario of a South Asian Fraternal Community, your forum

Somnath Chatterjee, has scripted the trailer of the things that could happen in stSouth Asia in 21 century. SAFMA's contribution in this regard Former Speaker of Indian Lok Sabha

has been truly outstanding.”“I compliment SAFMA for its laudable efforts in bringing SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliamenttogether the parliamentarians of the region with a view to Islamabad/Bhurban, May 15-20, 2005transforming this region into one of peace, tranquillity and

development. I wish to compliment SAFMA for having taken the responsibility of strengthening media capacity and promoting access to and free flow of information across the

Dr Fehmida Mirza, Speaker of Pakistan's National Assemblyregion.”“SAFMA enabling the visionary souls of the SAARC region to SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian Parliament

Shimla, India, June 2-3, 2007 sit together in spite of mutual misgivings indicates the vitality of this (SAFMA) platform. I hope this organisation will continue building bridges and bring our two sides even closer.” (Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-IIslamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009)Madam Khaleda Zia,

Former prime minsiter ogf Bangaldesh“I understand that SAFMA is actively engaged in promoting a considerable degree of goodwill and fostering mutual

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, understanding among the media practitioners in South Asia.

Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National AssemblyIts stride in this direction will have an indelible mark on

“SAFMA has been an agent of converting the heat and strengthening the SAARC spirit among the peoples of our

friction into coolness of friendship in the region. This nations.”

transformation has been a pleasant thing for which SAFMA Second South Asian Free Media Conference,

has been working.”Kathmandu, Nepal, January 1-2, 2002SAFMA Parliamentary Forum-II: South Asian ParliamentShimla, India, June 2-3, 2007

First South Asian Free Media Conference Islamabad, Pakistan July 1-2, 2000 Towards Free, Fair and Vibrant Media

Celebrating SAFMA's Ten YearsThe South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) completes 10 years of its existence on July 2, 2010. The delegates attending the First South Asia Free Media Conference (SAFMC) in Islamabad decided to form a mainstream media body of the region

ndon 2 July 2000. The founding conference evolved a programme, “Media Development, Freedom and Peace in South Asia”, that focused on two-fold objectives to pursue in the s ub s equen t y ea r s : a ) med i a development, free flow of and access to i n fo rma t ion and a f r e e , professionally competent, unbiased and independent media in the region and (b) promote a culture of dialogue a n d a n e n v i r o n m e n t f o r understanding, tolerance, peace, conflict resolution and cross-border cooperation leading towards a South Asian Union and help bring an end to the menace of extremism and terrorism.

Since then SAFMA has been established in all the eight member countries of SAARC, with elected National Chapters and offices in most countries of the region. The South Asia Media Centre was also established in Lahore from where SAFMA Central Secretariat

SAFMA is born

Second South Asian Free Media Conference

Kathmandu, Nepal, January 1-2, 2002

Third South Asian Free Media ConferenceDhaka, Bangladesh, May 25-26, 2003Media and Peace Media and Democracy

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba addressing the concluding session

Journalists from South Asian countries march for peace in Kathmandu on January 2, 2002

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begam Khaleda Zia addressing the Special Plenary

Delegates pose with President Iajuddin Ahmed

Satnam Singh Manak, Shambhu Shreshta, Kanak Mani Dixit, Vinod Mehta, Ajeet Bhattacharjee, Imtiaz Alam, I. A. Rehman, Kamila Hyat, Reazuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Sobhan Chaudhury, Aslam Azhar, Ubaidullah Beg

operates. SAFMA has eight elected National Chapters and a Regional Executive Body. It is recognisd by SAARC as an Associated Body but has yet to be given the status of an Apex Body, which it must be given at the earliest.

The Action Plan approved by the Information Ministers of SAARC has been implemented by SAFMA, by establishing South Asian Media Centre, South Asian Media Net, South Asian Journal, South Asia Media School and journalists exchanges and editors conferences.

So far SAFMA has held seven regional South Asian Free Media Conferences, five SAARC Journalists Summits, two Indo-Pak, two South Asian, one Pak-Afghan parliamentary conferences and various sub-regional exchanges to promote free media, peace and regional cooperation such as Dhaka-Kolkata, Mumbai-Karachi, Punjab-Punjab and Kashmir-Kashmir.

Fourth South Asian Free Media Conference

Lahore, Pakistan, November 20-21, 2004

Fifth South Asian Free Media Conference

Hyderabad, India, February 11-12, 2006

Sixth South Asian Free Media ConferenceColombo, Sri Lanka, August 19-20, 2007

Seventh South Asian Free Media ConferenceCox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, February, 2009

Media, Peace and Poverty Alleviation

SAFMA Regional Conference New Delhi, India, October 9-10, 2004

Interstate Conflicts in South Asia

Media and Reconciliation in South Asia

National Languages Mediaand Peace in South Asia

Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia

SAFMA leaders and Abul Kalam Azad, Information Minister of Bangladesh, Professor Rehman Sobhan stand in silence for those who lost their lives for media and democracy

President Musharaf elaborating his view on Indo-Pak relations and his much talked about outlines on Kashmir

SAFMA India General Secretary Vinod Sharma delivering welcome remarks

Delegates pose for a snap with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse during their visit to Temple Trees, the President's House, in Colombo

(L to R) SAFMA India General Secretary Vinod Sharma, Sanjiv Barua, Press Secretary to Prime Minister, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, External Affairs Minister of India Natwar Singh,

SAFMA India President KK Katyal and SAFMA President Reazuddin Ahmed

Saarc Journalists Summit IIDhaka, Bangladesh, November 10-11, 2005

Saarc Journalists Summit IIIDelhi, India, April 1-2, 2007

Saarc Journalists Summit IRawalpindi, Pakistan, January 3, 4 2004

Access to and Free Flow of Information

Journalists Beyond Frontiers

South Asian Media Net: South Asian Media and SAMC. The Foundation has entered Net has been online for eight years. The news contribution agreements with UNDP, and views website is updated daily to provide Norway and the Netherlands and raised one window to all South Asian countries. It more than US$ 8 million to run SAFMA has been renovated with audio-video facilities activities in the past eight years. The a n d c a n b e a c c e s s e d a t Foundation accepts the work-plans and www.southasianmedia.net. Any South Asian the budgets proposed by the Regional can file a story or views on the site and join Executive Bodies of SAFMA, SAWM and va r iou s d i s cu s s ion fo rums on i t . SAMC and their Secretary Generals are SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC members can have represented on the Board of Governors of their conferences on this site. the Foundation.

Free Media Foundation (FMF): FMF, South Asian Free Media Endowment registered under the Societies Act, has been (Fund): To become self-sustaining, the implementing agency for SAFMA, SAWM FMF/SAFMA has proposed the creation of

Journalists Above Divides

SAARC Journalists Summits

Left to Right: SAFMA Sri Lanka President Laxman Gunasekera, SAFMA India President K K Katyal, India's State Minister for External Affairs E Ahamed, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, SAFMA President Reazuddin Ahmed, SAFMA Pakistan President M Ziauddin, SAFMA Nepal President Gopal Thapalya

Rangin Dafdar Spanta, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Iftikhar Ahmed Chowdhry, Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh, Ahmed Shaheed, Foreign Minister of Maldives, Imtiaz Alam, SAFMA Secretary General, K. K. Katyal, SAFMA India President, Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister of India, Chair of SAARC Council of Ministers, Sahana Pradhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Nepal, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Rohitha Bagollagama, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and Shiv Shankar Menon, the Foreign Secretary of India

A happy handshake: Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Imtiaz Alam and Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri

Saarc Journalists Summit VParo, Bhutan, April 27-28, 2010

Environment andSouth Asia

a South Asia Free Media Endowment (Fund) worth US$ expression and right to know; c) Promoting free flow 20.34 million with a possible contribution from SAARC of information and movement of media-persons Development Fund and members/observers of SAARC at and media products across borders; d) Raising media the SAARC Journalists Summit-V in Bhutan in April 2010. professional standards through training and SAFMA has also proposed the creation of scholarships reorientation (SAMS); e) Helping media persons rise worth US$ 336,000 annually from the respective SAARC above their national/ethnic/religious divides in countries for their young journalists to be trained at the conflict situations; f) Overcoming information South Asian Media School. deficit through joint media productions, such as

South Asian Media Net, a news and views portal and SAFMA's Impact: South Asian Journal, a high quality quarterly SAFMA has been instrumental in promoting free and magazine; g) Monitoring attacks on media-persons responsible media to promote tolerance, peace and and media organisations and auditing media cooperation in South Asia. Pursuing a two-pronged content; publication of annual and periodical strategy to achieve its twin objectives of developing a reports on media (South Asia Media Monitor); conscientious media community with a South Asian solidarity movements for media freedom and peace, perspective and engaging media for conflict resolution, such as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri peace, tolerance and regional cooperation, SAFMA has Lanka; h) Gender sensitization and mainstreaming made a remarkable contribution. through workshops and guidelines, now under the

auspices of SAWM; i) Joint media platforms for Media Related Achievements: action and reform at the national and regional SAFMA, SAMC and SAWM have achieved the following levels; j) Redefining media's role in conflicts, women media objectives: a) An active media network across rights, good governance, peace, fighting terrorism borders with regularly elected national chapters, Media etc.; k) Promoting regional cooperation, conflict Resource Centres in eight countries and Regional resolution and isolating religious extremism and Executive Bodies elected every two year by South Asian fighting terrorism through media campaigns and sub-Free Media Conference and SAWM and SAMC Regional regional, bilateral and regional fora, interactions, Conferences, a Central Secretariat in Lahore, Pakistan; b) exchanges and networking (South Asian Strengthening the right to know and freedom of Parliamentary conferences, Indo-Pak parliamentary expression by bringing changes into media and other conferences, Pak-Afghan Parliamentary conferences, laws of those countries that prohibit freedom of Kashmir-Kashmir, Punjab-Punjab, Mumbai-Karachi,

Saarc Journalists Summit IVColombo, Sri Lanka, July 30-31, August 1, 2008

Freedom of Media in Conflict Situations

Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the Adviser for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Bhutan's Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister of India, SAFMA President Lakshman Gunasekara, Rohitha Bogollagama, Chairman, Council of Ministers of SAARC, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of Maldives, Gyan Chandra Acharya, Foreign Minister of Nepal

Bhutan's Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley addressing the opening session

Second Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists & Experts ConferenceIslamabad, Pakistan, August 10-11, 2003

Understanding, Confidence-building, Conflict-resolution

(Left to right) Makhdoom Amin Fahim, President PPP-P, Senator Ehsanul Haq Piracha, former president Farooq Leghari, President of Millat Party, Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani,

MP, and ruling PML-Q President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain

Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly and SAFMA presidium standing in respect as national anthems

of Pakistan and India are played

(Left to right) Sardar Zora Singh Mann, MP Shiromani Akali Dal, Laloo Parasad Yadav, President, RJD, Ram Jethmalani, MP, Independent

and Saleem Iqbal Shervani, MP, SP, with other delegates.

Ruling PML-Q and the opposition PML-N leaders

Indian delegates with President Pervez Musharraf at the Presidency

First Pakistan-India Parliamentarians, Journalists & Experts Conference

Islamabad, Pakistan

Towards Detente in the Subcontinent

Dhaka-Kolkota sub-regional exchanges); l) the centre-stage of creating understanding, Strengthening democracy, democratic reconciliation processes and confidence culture, promoting tolerance and curbing between Pakistan and India and terrorism and religious extremism through Afghanistan and Pakistan: a) It brought various activities. together not only journalists from all

divides, but also parliamentarians, SAFMA's Achievements for Peace: politicians and experts from these SAFMA has expanded its appeal and countries, besides building bridges influence beyond the media community between Bangladesh and India and Nepal that increasingly joined its ranks. SAFMA is and Bhutan. Its initiatives have led to playing an active role in conflict resolution, ceasefire between India and Pakistan, after peacemaking, confidence building, and it brought together the members of the eradication of terrorism and extremism. In two parliaments in Islamabad who called its ten-year existence, SAFMA has been at for a ceasefire and initiated confidence-

(L to R) Prithviraj Chauhan, S. M. Krishna (now Indian External Affairs Minister) and other delegatesPPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto addressing a session

The presidium of the opening session: (Right to left) M. Ziauddin, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, Abu Hena, Reazuddin Ahmed, Speaker, National Assembly, Ch. Amir Hussain, Imtiaz Alam, Ashwini Kumar, Sripathi Suriarachchi, Gopal Thapaliya, Aroosa Alam

UP FOR NATIONAL ANTHEMS: (L to R) Dr Mahmmad Saleh Saljoqi, MP from Afghanistan, Dr Osman Faruque, former MP from Bangladesh, Dasho Sangye Wangdi from Bhutan, K K Katyal, President of SAFMA, Virbharda Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Somnath Chatterjee, the speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha, Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General of SAFMA, K Keshava Rao, MP from India, Mohamed Shihab, MP from Maldives, Madhav Kumar Nepal, MP from Nepal, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, Leader of the

Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly, W.J.M. Lokubandara, Speaker of the Sri Lanka Parliament

SAFMA's Parliamentary Forum II: South Asian Parliament Shimla, India, June 2-3, 2007 Towards South Asian Unity

Parliamentarians representing all political parties in all the eight parliaments of member countries of SAARC resolve to create a

SOUTH ASIAN UNION in their two successive parliamentary conferences held in Bhurban, Pakistan, and Shimla, India

Creating South Asian ParliamentSAFMA's first Parliamentary Forum

Bhurban Pakistan, May 15-20, 2005Evolving South Asian Fraternity

President Asif Ali Zardari, Amanullah Paiman (Head of the Afghan delegation), at the centre, President SAFMA Afghanistan Ehsanullah Arianzai and SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam standing as national anthems are played

before the ceremony at the Presidency

Delegates of the Conference standing for national anthems at the Presidency

Pak-Afghan Parliamentarians, Experts and Editors Conference-I

SAFMA Pak-Afghan DialogueIslamabad, Pakistan, March 31, April 1, 2009

Building Long-Term Partnership

SAFMA Secretary General, Imtiaz Alam, former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Governor Pakhtoonkhwa Owais Ghani, Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Fehmida Mirza, Head of Afghan Delegation Amanullah Paiman, SAFMA Afghanistan President Ehsanullah Arianzai, Senator Afrasiab Khattak

Journalists Exchange Across the Line of Control

2004

Free Movement of Journalists and Information

building measures between the two countries. in Pakistan and India that attracted official delegations Mumbai and Karachi, Dhaka and Kolkata and Encouraged by SAFMA's initiative, India and Pakistan of all parties from all the legislatures of the region and journalists' exchange across the divided Kashmir.initiated a series of confidence-building measures and a set the agenda of South Asian Economic and composite dialogue process. b) By exchanging two Parliamentary Union. It achieved yet another landmark Institutional Development: groups of journalists across the Line of Control (LoC), by bringing together the parliamentarians from The Free Media Foundation, SAFMA, SAWM and SAMC dividing Kashmir, SAFMA facilitated an understanding Afghanistan and Pakistan in Islamabad. d) Quite have taken far reaching measures for its institutional on opening the LoC to divided families and a bus service refreshing and motivating was a visit by the captains of development. The Central Secretariat has evolved a between the two capitals of divided Kashmir. SAFMA industry, agriculture, culture and media from the well thought-out institutional Development Plan and organized two South Asian Parliamentary conferences Pakistan side of Punjab to the Indian side and between has implemented it. Free Media Foundation's

Mumbai-Karachi ExchangeKarachi, Pakistan, 2006

Punjab-Punjab Exchange2006

Pakistani journalists waving goodbye to their hosts in Indian-administered Kashmir

Journalists Exchange Across the Line of Control2004

Free Movement of Journalists and

Information

Indian journalists at a function in Gilgit

Indian delegates at a reception in Karachi Pakistani delegates receive a welcome memento at Chandigarh Press Club

Memorandum has been revised, on the advice of a leading corporate lawyers firm, to create a strong and clear institutional and structural relationship between the FMF and SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC. Similarly, SAFMA's, SAWM's and SAMC's memorandums have also been amended to strengthen this institutional and structural relationship. Ernst and Young Chartered Accountants have undertaken a comprehensive Gap Analysis of FMF's Central Secretariat's financial, managerial and HR procedures. The Report was approved and Ernst and Young were asked to propose Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). They proposed two manuals on finance and HR as well as a manual for National Chapters, to bring our working and governance in accordance with best practices and international corporate standards to strengthen good governance, accountability, transparency, necessary checks and balances and discipline. FMF, Central Secretariat and National Chapters must ensure that these manuals are fully followed in letter and spirit. A system of result-based Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting has been established and it must be implemented. South Asian Free Media Endowment Fund is being created for self-sustainability.

MEDIA, SAARC, SAFMAthThe 14 SAARC Summit in April 2007 stressed “the

need for closer regional cooperation in the field of information and communication technology”. It also directed to take steps on other ICT-enabled fields.

thThe 15 SAARC Summit in August 2008 recognized “the importance of connectivity for realizing the objectives of SAARC …it further stressed the necessity for fast-tracking projects to improving intra-regional connectivity and facilitating economic, social and people-to-people contacts”. Things have not moved along these tracks and the SAARC visa exemption scheme has not worked. Media and information remain the most neglected area despite South Asian Free Media Association's (SAFMA) persistent efforts and successive SAARC Summits and the commitments made by the foreign ministers at SAARC Journalists Summits since 2004. The SAARC visa quota for journalists remains unimplemented in India and Pakistan.

Generally, the issues of connectivity, communication, routes, cross border linkages, free movement of

South Asian Electronic Media WorkshopBreaking the Line

June 15-17, 2004, Karachi, Pakistan

Regional Conference onGender and Media in South Asia

June 26-27, 2004, Kathmandu, Nepal

A committee meeting

Talat Hussain, Ghazi Salahuddin, Barkha Dutt and Mujahid BarelviKhaled Ahmed,

CNN-IBN's editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai from India making a comment

Babar Ayaz, Monjur-ul-Ahsan Bulbul, Vinod Sharma, Khaled Ahmed and Kumar Ketkar

Rita Rahman, Usha Rai, Bandana Rana, Imtiaz Alam, Rita Manchanda, Lasantha Kurukulasuriya

Sharda Rijal, Farhana Afroz, Mohuya Chaudhuri, Laxman Gunesekera, Muni Saha

SAFMA proposes the following steps and measures bottlenecks in postal and telecommunication services South Asian Documentary Festivals for SAARC with the which SAFMA is ready to facilitate and allow a South Asian information highway. support of member countries. and SAARC and its member states 4. Help create a South Asian News Agency, which SAFMA 8. SAFMA is also ready to help SAARC Audio Visual

must help implement: is capable of running. Exchange (SAVE) Program by making them more 5. Recognize SAFMA as SAARC's Regional Media Forum attractive and popular. SAFMA is prepared to help

1. To allow Access to Information. SAFMA has proposed a and grant SAFMA the status of SAARC's Apex Body. develop Model Guidelines for trans-national model Protocol on Information to the member SAFMA is ready to organize the conferences of editors broadcasting in the region with the participation of countries and the SAARC for adoption. and working journalist from the platform of SAARC major stakeholders.

2. Ensure an easy and unrestricted visa regime for with the backing of SAARC secretariat. 9. SAFMA proposes to SAARC and its member countries journalist and for the people at large, for free 6. SAFMA has created South Asian Media Net which that the South Asian Media Centre it has established in movement of media persons across South Asia. SAFMA covers all about South Asia and member countries of Lahore be considered as SAARC's Media Centre.proposes once again our Protocol on Free Movement SAARC. SAARC must support southasianmedia.net and 10. Discourage negative projection of member countries of Media Persons and Media Products to the 16th we are ready to help develop and update the SAARC by the media in South Asia. SAFMA is ready to propose SAARC Summit for adoption. website. professional ethical standards for voluntary adoption

3. Lift all barriers on free flow of information, 7. SAFMA has organized documentary festivals in most by the media outlets and professional media bodies.newspapers, magazines, books, radio and TV channels countries of the region, besides a South Asian and other electronic productions, remove all Documentary Festival. SAFMA is ready to organize

Allocate funds for the creation of a

South Asian Media Endowment Fund

either out of SAARC Development Fund

and/or with the contribution from

Member Countries of SAARC.

The Endowment Fund can be created

with the amount of USD 20.340 million

which will be maintained by a regional

trust dedicated to the objectives and

activities of SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC and

their implementing Agency, Free Media

Foundation. Two options through

which SAFMA is seeking support are:

Alternative-I: The funds for South Asian

Free Media Endowment Fund be

provided by the SAARC Development

Fund;

And/Or Alternative-II: The Member

Countries of SAARC share the funds

among themselves.

Appeal to SAARC and its Member/Observer to help create

South Asian Media Endowment Fund

SAFMA's Proposal to SAARC and its Member Countries for Scholarships

Recognize South Asian Media School as an affiliate of SAARC in media training. We appeal to the member countries of SAARC to approve scholarships for young journalists and fresh graduates for media training from their countries through SAFMA National Chapters for training at South Asia Media School.

Cost per student is calculated USD 3000 approximately. Breakup as Follow:

Scholarships Number of TotalS.No. Country Name per course Courses Students Cost (in USD)

1 Afghanistan 5 4 20 60,000

2 Bangladesh 3 4 12 36,000

3 Bhutan 2 4 8 24,000

4 India 5 4 20 60,000

5 Maldives 2 4 8 24,000

6 Nepal 3 4 12 36,000

7 Pakistan 5 4 20 60,000

8 Sri Lanka 3 4 12 36,000

Total Costs

112 336,000

people, goods and information still remain unaddressed despite various declarations and recommendations by the relevant forums of SAARC.

The SAARC information ministers had agreed to implement the following measures through a Plan of Action and set the following objectives:

1. To actively encourage greater flow of information in the SAARC region. (SAARC region remains prohibitive of the free flow of information and movement of journalists across borders, despite SAFMA's lobbying for the last ten years and its Protocol on Free Movement of Journalists and Media Products repeatedly presented to successive SAARC Summits since 2003.)

2. To generate, disseminate and exchange information material. (Nothing has moved on this account. However, SAFMA has established and maintained since 2003 a daily news and views portal, southasianmedia.net, on the countries of South Asia with two million hits every month.)

3. To strengthen cooperation in the field of media and information and upgrade the professionalism of media persons through human resource development programs and regional exchanges. (Nothing was done for the professional development of journalists. A few exchanges of journalists did take place. SAFMA has, in the meantime, held and organized over 50 regional conferences and exchanges, including journalists/editors, experts, academicians, parliamentarians and politicians. For the professional uplifting of young journalists SAFMA has developed a South Asian Curricula on Media, South Asian Faculty and a South Asian Media School (SAMS), which has held seven 2-month media courses for young journalists from the eight countries.

SAFMA has also backed leading women journalists in establishing South Asia Women in Media (SAWM) to mainstream gender issues and ensure greater participation of women journalists. SAWM now has a Regional Executive Body with eight National Chapters in the region.

South

Asian

Wome

n in Me

dia First Regional Conference

South Asian Policy Analysis (SAPANA) network -- a virtual think-tank and network of experts, academics and researchers -- has produced the high quality research-based South Asian Media series consisting of 13 books on major policy issues facing South Asia. Another research-based series consisting of seven books on important regional issues is under preparation and is expected to be published by the end of this year and the start of next year.

SAPANA delegates with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

South Asian Policy Analysis (SAPANA) Network ConferenceApril 29-30, 2006, Islamabad, Pakistan Envisioning South Asia

SAPANA: South Asian Studies Forthcoming Publications Vol. I: Whither South Asia? pp.282, 1. Women/Gender in South AsiaVol. II: Trade, Tariffs, and Customs in South Asia, pp.248, 2. Democracy, Ethnicity and Nation-Building in South AsiaVol. III: Macroeconomic Coordination in South Asia, pp.291, 3. Militancy and Conflict in South AsiaVol. IV: Poverty in South Asia, pp.450, 4. Minorities in South AsiaVol. V: Energy Cooperation in South Asia, pp.280, 5. Media in South AsiaVol. VI: Managing South Asia's Waters, pp.230, 6. Human Security in South AsiaVol. VII: Security and Nuclear Stabilisation in South Asia, pp.265, 7. Education in South AsiaVol. VIII: Conflict Resolution in South Asia, pp.451, Vol. IX: History and Education in South Asia, pp.252 Vol. X: Religious Revivalism in South Asia, pp.450, Vol. XI: WTO and South Asia, pp.272, Vol. XII: The Media in South Asia, pp.566, Vol. XIII: SAARC, pp.499,

SAFMA's joint media productions have had a positive impact on South Asia. South Asian Journal has completed seven years of publication while keeping its high quality and cross-cutting themes. Top experts, academicians, researchers and editors contribute to the Journal which has a vast subscription across the region. The Journal has focused on major regional and national policy issues to overcome information deficit and create broader understanding on inter and intra state issues.

SAFMA has helped establish South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) in all the eight countries and at the regional level to monitor the attacks on the press and to audit media content. It has held its two regional conferences that have elected its successive Regional Executive Bodies. Eight National Chapters have a l s o b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h representation from major media bodies and the civil society.

South Asia Media Monitor, which covers attacks on journalists and audits media content, has completed five years of publication.

South Asian Media Commission

South Asia Media Commission-IApril 1, 2007, New Delhi, India Founding Conference

South Asia Media Commission Conference-IIApril 1, 2007, New Delhi, India Safety of Journalists

Sarath Knogahe, Chimisel Don, Rajendra Dahal, I. A. Rahman, Imtiaz Alam, N. Ram, K. K. Katyal, Kuldip Nayar, Reazuddin Ahmad, Hamid Mobarez, Adam Miqdad

Ugyen Pelgen from Bhutan, Mizanur Rehman Shelley from Bangladesh, Zia Bumia from Afghanistan, SAMC Secretary General Najam Sethi, Kumar Ketkar from India, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam,

Afzal Khan from Pakistan, Kishor Shreshta from nepal and U. Abdul Najeem from Sri Lanka

Member of South Asia Media Commission after their annual meeting

South Asian Media School (SAMS) was established to train and educate young journalists from the region, has successfully undertaken five eight-week and two five-week certificate courses so far under the supervision of a superb faculty and international instructors and wil l be expanding its training program to six-month and one-year D i p l o m a C o u r s e s i n collaboration with Goldsmiths College, London.

South Asian Media School (SAMS)

Production House

Free Media Production House (FMPH) with one radio and two television studios has been established at the South Asian Media Centre. It has planned a series of documentaries, investigative reports, public debates and cultural programs to promote tolerance, human and women rights, and expose the ugly face of militancy, besides promoting public interests. The production house also provides hands-on training to young journalists from South Asia.

SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam, Ambassador of the Netherlands William Andreae, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Ambassador of Norway Aud Marit Wiig and

FMF President Munnoo Bhai

South Asian Documentary Festival: international guests to explore the pivotal role of The South Asian Documentary Interactive Festival documentary making in our region by exploring organized by South Asian Free Media Association existing work and the issues of filmmaking.(SAFMA) seeks to provide a multi cultural platform of South Asian documentary filmmakers for quality South Asian Interactive Documentary Festival (SAIDF), production and viewership. SAFMA has played a aims at drawing attention to the critical role of significant role in not only highlighting issues of documentary making in South Asian media in creating media freedom, but also in promoting awareness of the inter and intra state conflicts in the understanding and peace among the countries of region and the need for peaceful solutions to conflicts SAARC. After its successful launch in December and creating an understanding among various cultures 2008 in Kathmandu, Nepal showcasing 30 and peoples in the region. documentaries from South Asia, SAFMA proposes the Second South Asian Documentary Festival serving as a focal point for South Asian filmmakers, broadcasters, journalists, academics and

Lahore Film and Literary Club:Recognizing the cultural vacuum in the country and the need to revive the public's interest in art, film, music and literature, SAFMA has set up a film and literary club. As a tribute to the cine-going age and the days of the Pak Tea House /Lahore Coffee House, LFLC is a platform for film and literature enthusiasts, art lovers, and intelligentsia, students and media professionals. LFLC aims at not only exploring established works of arts with the focus on primarily though not solely- South Asia but also introducing and appreciating emerging talent. The Punjabi Literary Circle at LFLC reads and studies classic works such as of Baba Farid's to the post-

thindependence period of the 20 century. The sessions are designed to cater to those with little understanding of Punjabi language and also Punjabi literature enthusiasts.

Novelist Bapsi Sidhwa and moderator Naveed Shahzad

South Asian Documentary Festival audience

Moderator Moniza Hashmi, Novelist Muhammad Hanif and reviewer Rashed Rahman

Dr Maheeb SinghPakistanRita ManchandaImtiaz AlamSumit ChakrabortyMunnoo BhaiZafar MerajAhmad Bashir (late)K R MalkaniSirmed ManzoorSatnam Singh ManakI A RehmanVishwa Bandu GuptaHusain Naqi

Prof Khawaja Masud (late)BangladeshIrshad Ahmed Haqqani (late)

M Ziauddin Reazuddin AhmedM B Naqvi (late) Enayatullah KhanShireen Pasha Zahiduzzaman FaruqueAroosa Alam Iqbal Sobhan ChaudhuryMustansar Javed Rita RehmanNusrat Javeed Monjurul Ahsan BulbulDr Jabbar Khattak Mahbubul AlamRahimullah Yousufzai Shawkat MahmoodSaida Fazal Syed Badrul AhsanGhazi Salahuddin Muni SahaMujeeb-ur-Rehman ShamiAgha Nasir NepalNazir Naji Gopal ThapaliyaMushtaq Sufi Nirmala SharmaBeena Sarwar Gokul PokhrelRashed Rahman Shambhu ShreshtaMahesh Kumar Bandana RanaSiddique Baloch Narayan WaghleAnjum Rashid Prateek PradhanSohail WarraichRehana Hakeem Sri LankaAbdul Qadir Hasan

Laxman GunesakaraMahesh Kumar

Sharmini BoyleWaqar Mustafa

Ranga KalansooriyaIndiaN M AmeenK K KatyalAnoma RajakurnaVinod SharmaS VanesaselvanDileep PadgaonkarHana IbrahimSushant SareenS KathirgamarthambyPrem Shankar Jha

Bhabhani Sen GuptaAfghanistan Kuldeep Nayar

Seema Mustafa M Haleem FidaiVinod Mehta Rahimullah SamanderKumar Ketkar Ehsanullah AryanzaiJohn Cherian Farida NekzadS Nihal Singh Dr Akbar AkbarAjit Bhattacharjee Abdul Hamed MobarezAnuradha JamwalRenu Mittal BhutanMannika Chopra Needrup ZangpoP L Uniyal Rinzin WangchukPrabodh Jamwal Phuntsho ChodenAshish Chakraborty Sonam PeldenDigant Oza Gopilal AcharyaKaran Sawhni Kesang Dema Tarun VijayShamim Faizi MaldivesVijay Naik

Aminath NajeebH K Dua

Mohamed HilamyVinod Dua

Mariyam SohanaVed Bhasin

Irushada A SattarPrabhat DabralZaheeruddin Ali KhanYousaf JameelJohn DayalM K Dhar

The Founders

SOUTH ASIAN JOURNALBOARD OF GOVERNORS (BOG)Free Media Foundation (FMF)

Zebunnisa BurkiFormer Executive EditorMr Munir Ahmed Qureshi (Munno Bhai)

President BOG, Chair HR Special Committee

Bushra SultanaAssistant Editor, South Asian JournalHusain Naqi

Secretary BOG

SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NETShahid KardarMember Waqar Mustafa

Executive Editor

Mahmood MirzaMember, Chair Audit and Finance Committee Azad Kausari (late)

Former content Editor, SAMN portalMs Saida FazalMember Muhammad Akram

News EditorMs Shireen PashaMember Huma Sadaf

SubeditorAbbas RashidMember Amjad Ali

SubeditorNajam Sethi, MemberSecretary General, SAMC

SOUTH ASIA MEDIA SCHOOL

Mr. M. Ziauddin, MemberKhaled Ahmed

Nominee Secretary General, SAFMADirector

Ms. Mehmal Sarfraz, MemberMoneeza Hashmi

Joint Secretary and Nominee SAWMFormer Consultant, SAMS

Imtiaz Alam Amara JavedExecutive Director, Free Media Foundation Registrar, SAMS,Secretary General SAFMA HR Manager

Anjum Rashid SOUTH ASIA MEDIA MONITORDeputy Director, Free Media Foundation

Sadaf Arshad Coordinating Editor, Media MonitorSirmed Manzoor

Former DED

PRODUCTION HOUSEBilal Naqeeb Director, Programs Minhaj Sabri

Director

Omar Arshad Director, Finance Imran Riaz

Director, Programming and Marketing

Ghulam MustafaAccountant Moeez Qadri

IT Assistant

Khalid Shah Assistant Manager, Finance Sarah Tareen

Lahore Film and Literary Club

Imtiaz-ul-HaqManager, Administration Asif Butt

Office Assistant

Muhammad AdeelCreative Head, Publications Khalid Latif

Office Assistant

Mohammad Shafique Network Administrator

Central Secretariat Team

Logical Framework Matrix: Anticipated Results

Impact: Free and responsible media contributes towards tolerance, peace and cooperation in South Asia

Outcome 1:

Enhanced capacity of media to promote regional peace and development

Outcome 2:

Greater utilization of shared knowledge base on South Asian Policy Issues by policy makers and opinion makers

Outcome 3:

Enhanced capacity of media to promote and safeguard the rights and responsibilities of journalists through media monitoring and reorientation of young journalists

Outcome 4:

Conducive environment for peace, cooperation and tolerance in the region strengthened

Output 1.1 (SAFMA):

Expanded and consolidated network of well informed journalists in all eight countries of South Asia with ability to take up selected thematic issues in the region (SAFMA)

Output 2.1:

(SAJ/SAPANA):

Increased sharing of research-based knowledge contributing to policy formulation, review and feedback (SAPANA) and quarterly South Asian Journal

Output 3.1 (SAMC):

Improved mechanisms of monitoring content and attacks on media (South Asia Media Monitor and South Asian Media Commission)

Output 4.1 (Peace initiatives):

Increased level of understanding among major stakeholders, diverse sections and media groups through regional (South Asian Media, experts and Parliamentary moots) bilateral (Pak-Afghan, Indo-Pak, Bangladesh-India) and sub-regional fora

(Punjab-Punjab, Mumbai-Karachi, Kashmir-Kashmir, Peshawar-Kabul, Dhaka-Kolkata, etc.) exchange visits

Output 1.2 (SAWM):

Increased sensitivity of media groups to recognize and address gender issues in all aspects

Output 2.2 (SAMN):

Improved and greater access to unbiased and contextualized South Asian news and views through a well maintained web portal

Output 3.2 (SAMS):

Increased capacities and reorientation of media personnel (esp. youngsters) on regional issues with a South Asian perspective and high ethical standards

Output 4.2 (Curb terrorism):

Increased awareness of stakeholders, experts, journalists and parliamentarians of member countries of SAARC to curb terrorism/extremism for regional peace and sustainable cooperation

Output 1.3 South Asian Media Centre (Central Secretariat):

Improved programme coordination and management strengthened.

Output 3.3: (South Asian Media Centre)

Increased mobilisation of video documentary filmmakers to undertake the issues of peace, violence, gender, poverty and culture to be promoted and disseminated among the masses

Output 4.3: (Production House)

Effective and low cost soft and hard media products for mass awareness and public service developed and widely disseminated and also for sustainability purposes

ExternalAuditor

General Body

Board ofGovernors

AM - Finance

AM - Accounts

Chapters'Accountants

Director SAMS

Editor MM Editor SAMNDirector Finance

Executive Director

Finance andAudit

Committee

SpecialProcurementCommittee

HR andRecruitmentCommittee

InternalAuditor

Deputy Executive Director

EditorSAJ/SAPANA

DirectorProduction

House

SAMCChapters

SAWMChapters

SAFMAChapters

MarketingManger

Registrar

Faculty

2 Assistants

6 AssociateEditors

2 News Editors

3 sub editors

1 Composer

Executive Editor

1CoordinatingEditor

2 Sub Editors

1 Rapporteur

H R Manager

CoordinatorLFLC

IT Admin

Manager Admin.

Library

Support Staff

CafeAssistants

Principal Information

Officer

Chapters'ProgramOfficers

ExecutiveEditor

SAJ/SAPANA

AssistantEditor

2 ResearchAssociates

Consulting Editor

DirectorProgramme

Creative UnitStaff

ProductionStaff

PostProduction

Staff

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

FMF/SAFMA/SAWM/SAMC Organogram

REB SAFMA

REB SAWM

REB SAMC

SAFMCSAWM

ConferenceSAMC

Conference

& Peace

Peace Not War

Talks Not Violence

Flexibility Not Rigidity

Cooperation Not Subjugation

Development Not Militarization

Equality Not Hegemony

Freedoms Not Repression

Simultaneity Not Selectivity

Tolerance Not Impatience

Appreciation Not Demonization

Code

Independence Not Embedded-ness

Objectivity Not Propaganda

Neutrality Not Partiality

Authenticity Not Speculation

All-sidedness Not One-sidedness

Caution Not Hate

Contextulization Not Stereotyping

Respect Not Defamation