The Media Must Sustain The Human Community"- Archbishop Moras

BANGALORE, MAY 14, 2008, 15.30 Hrs (SAR News):

"The Right to Know is inherent to the freedom of expression" Archbishop Bernard Moras told participants at the 14th National Journalists Conference of the Indian Catholic Press Association in Bangalore, May 12th. He added "The RTI Act has proved to be a progressive instrument of democracy, empowering citizens to obtain official documents with ease and have access to government record without having to pay bribe, and to ensure accountability on the part of the government official."

He also noted that there was a dire need to implement the RTI in letter and the spirit if the country is to be saved from corruption and tyranny. "Media accountability must encourage true democratic participation of social responsibility. Media must use and sustain human community in different sections, such as economic, political, cultural, educational and religious. The information provided by the media is at the service of common good" he said.

The conference was declared open by Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde in the presence of RTI activists Shailesh Gandhi and Aruna Roy. Those also present were CBCI Secretary for Social Communication, Fr. Henry Dsouza,international delegates including Joseph Chitlapilly (Secretary General of the International Catholic Union of the Press,Geneva), Mr Jan Jalek(Special Correspondent, Epoch Times, Canada) and Ms. Else (President-elect of the International Catholic Press) and media personnel from Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa.

Archbishop Bernard Moras was guest of honour at the conference.