For a Free Afghan Media

Statement of General Media Strike Across Afghanistan

In order that the rule of law is upheld, media across Afghanistan will participate in a general strike until the following two legal conditions are met:

1. President Hamid Karzai ensures that no journalist in the future will be punished illegally or prosecuted illegally – in other words, the government particularly guarantees that Article 34 of the Constitution and Article 42 of the media law are enforced.

2. The unconditional release of Mr. Ali Mohaqiq Nasab – and according to the procedures of the law, his case should first be referred to the Commission on Media Law Violations.

This strike begins on Saturday (December 24 / 2005) at 12:00 and will end when these two legal, rational conditions of the community of writers, media, thought and freedom are met.

Strike procedures:

1. Participation in this strike is entirely voluntary.
2. No individual or organization is the leader, spokesperson or representative of this strike, and no individual or organization can act as leader, spokesperson or representative.
3. The strike ends when above mentioned conditions are met.
4. Print media, news agencies and online media halt all publication, or only and only publish the general strike statement in unadulterated form. Other comments can be introduced separately.
5. Radios and televisions cease all broadcast and continually air only the strike statement, or only halt broadcast. Other comments can be introduced separately.
6. Journalists whose media organizations are not interested to participate in the strike can individually participate in the strike by not producing news, interviews, photography, etc.
7. Media organizations are free to broadcast or publish advertisement.
8. All forms of discussions and agreements with authorized parties will not be considered as the delegation of strikers.
9. Stay strong, ambitious, united and victorious.
10. The text of this strike statement can be found online at www.afghanpress.blogspot.comPosted for a friend of mine currently working in Afghanistan.