Communication as Human Right

Nongmaithem Reena *

Human rights are the rights which every human being is entitled to enjoy and have to be protected. Basic to the concept of human rights is the notion that the human being is entitled to respect for his or her inalienable dignity.

Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states,
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood".

Basic human rights include civil and political right to life and liberty, freedom of expression, and equality before the law; and social, cultural and economic rights to participate in culture, the right to food, the right to work, and the right to education.

COMMUNICATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT:

Communication means to communicate each other through disseminating, sharing opinions, propagating thoughts among us. Communication is an inborn right to all living beings. Again communication is also an art that make our Earth alive. Since the creation of our Earth and before our language was developed, our ancestors used sign language, body language or any possible ways to intact with others.

Interaction is not only between humans it does among all natural creatures like animals, plants, birds and insects etc. Example, when lightening occurs we usually knows loud sounds will follows. Like this, many unseen communications within our environment and between us goes all the time. And we can understand many signals, many indications, many clues by watching acts of many insects or animals.

It is also permissible by the man made national or international laws of different nations. For Indian constitution, right to communicate, is under article 19.1(.a) which gives freedom of speech and expression.

For international, the MacBride Report (1980) considered the principle of free expression as the most important human right and stated that this freedom right implies three specific principles: the right to impart and publish news and information, and the right to seek and to obtain information, and the right to be informed.

Mass communication is the only basic way to bring any form of development: social, political and economic developments which are believed to be the three wheels of a society but now mass communication has also called as the fourth wheel of society. Development means well being of each individual in the society by acquiring the basic needs and rights as human.

HOW FAR THIS IS APPLICABLE:

As per the UDHR the right to communicate implies rights and obligations at several levels: individual, institutional and collective (international). At individual level it means the right to inform and to be informed, the protection of privacy, freedom of movement, the right of assembly, freedom of opinion and expression and unhampered access of information. At the institutional level it means the right to publish, unhampered access to sources of information, and the maintenance of professional secrecy. While at collective level, it means the right to a free and balanced flow of information, the right to the preservation of cultural integrity, the right to cultural exchange, and the right of reply.

But the thing is that how far the principle is applicable in individual, institutional and collective levels.

First considering internationally - the innovation of communication technology and new international information can play an important role in teaching of human rights and may contribute to improving people's knowledge about fundamental rights and ways of protecting them but the question is how well- equipped international information and communication technology is so safeguard human right standards in its own operations.

Whole world is talking about free flow of information but the flow is still imbalance example - more western programmes are seen on the TV screens of the third world countries. Despite the large scale changes brought about by technology, imbalance persists in the media and coverage of the development west vis-à-vis the developing countries of the 3rd world.

"Global Digital divide" is also an example of inequality and imbalance new media technology in the society. According to Bharat Mehra defines "digital divide" simply means "troubling gap between those who use computers and the internet and those who do not". So the existing mode of digital distribution is still one way. The developed west which represent only 10%of total world population enjoys 90% of the new facility of satellite communication while the remaining 90% of population which are dispersed in Asia, Africa, Latin America and even in some parts of Eastern Europe enjoy only 10% of the left communication facility.

"Man is born free but everywhere he is in chain" by French philosopher Rousseau during French revolution is seen as universal truth.

Looking at institutional level even today also many of media houses remain as mouthpiece of political parties and they cannot say or publish anything against those parties or individuals. It seems that the laws, the rights, the freedoms remain only on those piece of papers.

Bringing the issue in Manipur context, the debate become more interesting. In Manipur, not only this right to communicate, every right; from right to live, up to, right to death is violated. Many journalists have been killed regarding this right at different conditions. It is said that violation of basic right is the biggest crime but here it can be said that its a day to day routine.

Everyone here is observing "silence is golden" and it is better than to die without any reason but for saying something.

Killing of media persons without giving proper reason is not new here, on 17th November 2008; a junior sub-editor of Imphal Free Press was shot death with 3 bullets through his body. Konsam Rishikanta Singh, eldest son of the family with 2 sisters and only the earning man of the family at his young age of 22. He was assigned to bring report for the paper by 5pm but unfortunately he was found shot at Langol without giving any reason.

There are also many cases like killings of RK Sanatomba (editor "Kangla Lanpung" in 1993), HA Lalroha Mar (editor "San" Churachanpur in 1999), Thaonaojam Brajamani (editor "The Manipur News" in 2000), Yambem Megha (Vision News East electronic media) will remain as the unfaithful and unforgettable stories in the history of Media in Manipur.

Since our immemorial ancient times even when there is war between countries non of either sides attack the messengers, messengers are treated as God but what is going on here which is said to be as "a little paradise on earth", "jewel of India".

The Malom massacre, killing of innocent people, Manorama tragedy by security forces; beating of contractor of the going to be construct Tamenglong hospital mercilessly, brutally continuously for 1hour 30 minutes by NSCN(IM) cadres blaming disobedience towards the party.

In this tug- off-war between the state and non-state actors, people of Manipur almost forget "how to breath" forget about the rights given by the constitution, 90% of women are suffering from Psychosis.

It is really difficult to differentiate which individual right and institutional right is to consider and which not. Which right is prevented and which not. Everything is extorted everything is distorted. The basic rights means the inborn rights, the rights which are with me when I was born, is distorted by we human being ourselves. The discussion on this issue will be endless without solving the problems.

Most of the students, youths, younger generations which will be the pillar of the Nation ask themselves "why we were born as living being in lawless, merciless, inhuman society; why we have been taught so called rights : right to freedom, which include everything .

The only way to maintain a peaceful and harmonious society is the positive attitude towards each other, to respect others dignity and to prepare ourselves responsible towards our society. The problems in this issue are not only in our state but also throughout the nations and the world.

To solve this problem good moral education is very much needed for all citizens, education through religious believes like meditation (learning to know who I am), yoga asana (controlling myself) and moreover controlling overpopulation that will be way in eradicating poverty.