|
Dubai: Indian bloggers are livid over a gag order from their government that has banned access to blogs. The online medium of expression has become increasingly popular, with more than 80 per cent of internet users across the country reading or maintaining blogs.
However, after the multiple bomb blasts in Mumbai last week, the government issued an order directing internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to certain websites. Sources from the various ISPs have been quoted in the media as saying that they were asked to block around 20 URLs including Dalitstan.org, Clickatell.org and Hinduhumanrights.org - sites that allegedly promote extremism.
According to an AFP report, only two weblogs were listed - http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com and http:// pajamaeditors.blogspot.com, though the Indian Express listed an additional http://commonfolkcommonsense.blogspot.com, which is in a Far Eastern language and http://princesskimberly.blogspot.com, which has old postings of a woman's boredom. The government's ban came to light when Indian ISPs implemented a blanket ban on blogs hosted on blogspot and geocities as opposed to simply blocking the listed sites. Many popular Indian blogs were inaccessible, though many bloggers found ways around the ban. Though all the ISPs have not followed the directive, it has raised the debate of whether the world's largest democracy has the right to censor, especially when the selection of sites has been random. ISP officials were unable to comment on the criteria used to decide which sites would be blocked, though irate bloggers have already started condemning the Indian government's move. While there appears to be no clear policy on blogging or bloggers' rights to freedom of expression, the media has reported some officials in the Ministry of Information Technology referring to a 2003 notice allowing the government the right to restrict access to the internet. This includes websites that are threats to sovereignty and security of the country. Freedom fight
What the bloggers are saying Zoo Station
(http://wetware.blogspot.com)
"The Indian government, in what is perhaps a horrific reminder of the Emergency, has decided to ask most ISPs (a few friends who use Tata Indicom have been spared) in the country to block access to all blogs... as is the case with the bureaucracy in India, the government has overreached." Death Ends Fun
(http://dcubed.blogspot.com)
"This fight is not about finding the ways around [proxies], nor about simply getting blogspot unblocked. This should be aimed at nothing less than ensuring the government will never again do something like this. There should be no site or group of sites that they will ever again be able to block; in fact, there should be no book they will ban, no infringement on freedoms at all ever again. That's what this is about." Weblog of Kiruba Shankar
(www.kiruba.com)
At a time when India is moving forward, we don't need a step that drags us down. In one single step, we have been equalled to the communication-oppressed countries like North Korea, China and Nigeria. - V.B.
|
