What Media Freedom?

Arabia Published Charitable Trust Fraud Story which was killed four months ago by Malayalam Newspaper(s)

DUBAI - The Indian, journalist fraternity in Dubai seems to be vertically divided about the alleged fraud story filed by Arabia Newspaper, one of the Weekly Malayalam publications from Press Center, distributors of many Malayalam newspapers. The two series of reports published by Arabia with ample evidence should absolutely be an eye opener to the fraud perpetrated by the mushrooming number of trusts and associations with the covert and covert blessings of prominent politicians from India. It is learned that Kairali Channel and Indiavision have plans to give detailed report about the issue. The Malayalam media, which initially took up the matter, seems to be not so keen to report about the tricky issue.

As is clear some of the big politicians from India who have originally patronized the trust are influential and their clout is visible in the way the issue is handled by the media. The Trust has also been able to gain the trust of leading radio journalist, allegedly to mislead public into investing in the infamous insurance scheme. Taking a cue from the mushrooming number of NRK associations which try to get maximum media attention by bribing leading journalists with awards and rewards, the trust has allegedly roped in a radio station director too as a director. Now hundreds of directors and deputy directors have lined up to defend the trust and attack Arabia, read media freedom. Similarly, a leading BJP leader has lent his name to the trust and recommended the central government to get permission. O Rajagopalan, M P has been promised Rs.2.5 lakhs to the party fund for the favour, says one of the directors who lost trust in the trust. "We people approached a well known Malayali journalist in Dubai with all documents and proof about the Gulf Employees Trust Fraud. He promised to publish the story and took all the documents from them. However, the story was never published," said sources. And when it appeared in Arabia four months later, some journalists are covertly campaigning against its editor.

"Four months back the story about Gulf Charitable Trust was given to the Dubai Bureau chief of a leading Malayalam Newspaper. The victims, mostly some greedy Malayalis and the downtrodden working class, expected the newspaper to investigate and expose the alleged fraud. However, after much dilly dallying the story was killed for unknown reasons. It was after four months that the same story reached Arabia office," said sources. After the first story appeared in Arabia and followed up by some other publications, the trust representatives who started with abusive language and pressure tactics have approached various newspaper offices giving their version of the story. While there is nothing wrong in that, they have also been canvassing to isolate the Arabia editor Sharly Benjamin. "We did not publish all the names of victims as some of them are poor labourers. They are scared of giving their names," says one of the victims

Many victims are reluctant to speak out due to the intimidating tactics used by the gang of directors and the fear of negative media attention. Apparently the trust directors have been convening meetings to jointly defend the Trust and take legal action against Arabia. They have also complained to the Indian Consulate alleging that the story has been published after the Trust refused to advertise in Arabia newspaper. While the substance of such allegation is yet to be proved, it is a common tactics used in such occasions to harass the journalists and media organizations. The perpetrators of the fraud have dared to call Arabia, the newspaper which published the story as "Yellow Newspaper"

"It is common to hear such complaints, mostly baseless, against journalists and media organizations which publish strong stories. This is nothing new in the profession," says E.M.Ashraf, the Middle East head of Kairali TV. One radio station scored over other radio stations especially the one whose director is a trust director, by giving extensive coverage of the Arabia reports is also in silent mode. Every effort to isolate Sharly Benjamin for doing a good job should be jointly thwarted by the journalistic community in Dubai. However big the politicians behind the trust - be it Ramesh Chennithala, O Rajagopal or P.C.Alexander whose names appeared and disappeared as patrons! It is a fact that journalists work as part of a big Public Relation industry here. It is natural to kill some stories as journalists have to be embedded to some politicians and their benami businessmen… but to be part of a campaign to kill a journalist is shameful. More so if the campaign is to silence him. (Editor Keralamonitor.com)

Three Electrical Maintenance Workers Crushed to Death in Al Ain

About 12 people are dead and five seriously injured in different road accidents in Abu Dhabil and Al Ain on Friday. The casualty in these accidents occurred at Al Samha, Musafa, both in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Eight passengers who were traveling by a shared taxi from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi died in an accident that happened at about 11.30 on Friday near Al Samha, following tyre burst. The casualty in this tragic accident included three African women, two Pakistanis and a Jordanian, said hospital sources. The dead bodies are kept in the Central Hospital morgue, and those who are seriously injured are treated in the Central Hospital and Al Rahba hospitals.

Three workers who were engaged in electrical post maintenance at a fast track road at Al Saad Sohan road, 55 KMs away from Al Ain were crushed to death by a speeding Land cruiser. "About 14 maintenance workers of Al Naser International Company were engaged in electric post maintenance work. There were road diversion warnings and signals advising drivers to take a deviation in the three lane road. However a landcruiser, driven by a local citizen came very fast and smashed the warning signals and crushed three Asian workers to death. Al the three workers died on the spot and the dead bodies were removed from the spot, three years after the accident," a witness from Al Ain told 7-Days. There was also a ribbon partition and crane on the spot where the maintenance work was progressing. The accident occurred at 8.30 AM on Friday. The body of electrician Abdul Latheef (45) from Pakistan, Shamsu (40) and Kamal (35) are kept in the Al Ain GM Medical College Hospital and will be send to their native place after completing the formalities, said the officials.

Keralamonitor.com is Biased..Alleges Shahul Hameed of Muscat Oman.

Editor,

No doubt Keralamonitor is in the fore front to bring up all juicy news bits of Kerala, this is excellent. But are you unbiased? It looks like you are up against all successful businessmen of Kerala. Some of your news items is tinted with imagination than the truth. You also keep your eyes shut to the politicians, the likes of Achuthanandan who keeps on making remarks against everything under the sun. He cannot appreciate anyone be they are from his own party . Everybody according to him is taking bribe, may be he is not getting any share!!

The newly announched IT venture in Kochi can give job for 30 odd thousand people, but the party leaders especially of Communist does not want their cadre to work and earn a living. You should expose such politicians, may be they are from League/Congress/BJP/Communist. LDF will come to power in the next election and chances are all development program announced will go down the drain when they come to power. V S has already announced to cancel the land given by the government. I hope he does not become the next Cheif Minister of Kerla. One good news, generally he fails when communist win majority, history can repeat again. His remark against Malappuram District students securing higher mark is targeted against a community. Now that Thrissur District has scored higher ranks in the Entrance Exam, he will come up with yet another findings. The problem is the visual media give him regular platform to make announcement and he goes scot free becuase he is opposition leader. More Letters

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God hlep Keralites!!

Shahul, Ruwi Oma

by email: A V S HAMEED" <avshamed@omantel.net.om>

Their hate campaign against an Indian Ambassador in the Gulf was exposed through keralamonitor.com. The only fault of the Indian Ambassador is that he had asked schools to reduce exhorbitantly high fees! And the reward is "Indian Ambassador denied promotion...Watch out for our most important news from New Delhi.." as reported by the New KM. Anybody can guess what will be the next news...Transfer or Demotion?? If the journalists who created the school trouble, the Indian Ambassador and other sincere people are out of the way, then the ground is clear for continuing the same old public looting in the name of community service. So we guess the next "scoop" in new KM going to be something like this " KM Journalist sacked for illegal activities"? "Put behind bars for committing crime"? If you think that journalists are mere slaves of influencial businessmen and rich people, it is a mistake. You cannot classify all of us in the same category. . Influencial people may know the ministers, undersecretaries and the police top brass. KM doesnt have any high level influence or financial muscle power to match you! It is the Holy Month of Ramadhan and in the name of Allah the God Almighty we are prepared to face any punishment for helping the needy and poor through this humble portal!

More from Muscat K M Meenas Transfer More Letters and Discussions-- Mishandling of Funds at Church