Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Kashmiri Journalists Stage Protest Against 'Media Gag'

Reuters

   SRINAGAR - Journalists in Indian Kashmir on Thursday staged a small
   silent protest against what they say has been a "media gag" by Indian
   authorities that has badly affected their ability to work in the
   disputed region for the last 60 days.

   India stripped its portion of Muslim-majority Kashmir of autonomy on
   Aug. 5, shutting off phone networks and imposing curfew-like
   restrictions in some areas to dampen discontent.

   Some of those curbs have been slowly relaxed, but mobile and internet
   communications in the Kashmir valley are largely still blocked,
   severely impacting the ability of journalists to report from the
   region.

   Carrying placards and wearing black badges, more than 100 Kashmiri
   journalists gathered inside the Kashmir Press Club premises in Srinagar
   to stage a protest, as street protests are still restricted.

   "End information clampdown," "Stop criminalizing journalists,"
   "Journalism is not a crime," read placards held up during the silent
   protest.

.