Registration of Public Opinion.

Summary

“Registration of Public Opinion.” argues that the emergency has produced the worst form of press and public-opinion regimentation seen since Independence. It criticises the Government’s use of its monopoly over radio and television for blatant partisan purposes and one-sided propaganda, while observing that these media were not known for fairness even in normal times.

The document distinguishes between the principle and implementation of press control. It declares press pre-censorship unacceptable in principle and says that its implementation has been erratic and arbitrary. It concludes by demanding that press pre-censorship be lifted and that the state monopolies over radio and television be ended.

Key points

• The emergency is presented as an unprecedented intensification of government regimentation of the press and public opinion since Independence.
• The Government is accused of using its monopoly over radio and television for partisan purposes and one-sided propaganda.
• The document argues that radio and television lacked fairness even during normal times.
• Press pre-censorship is rejected as unacceptable in principle.
• The implementation of press pre-censorship is characterised as erratic and arbitrary.
• The conference calls for the removal of press pre-censorship and the ending of state monopolies over radio and television.