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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/french-journalists-labelled-spies-india-sand-mining-assignment
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| French journalists labelled spies over Indian mining investigation | French journalists labelled spies over Indian mining investigation |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Two French journalists have been labelled spies and are the subject of a criminal investigation after they tried to report on sand mining in south India – an assignment they took up because Indian journalists had been threatened for reporting on the issue. | Two French journalists have been labelled spies and are the subject of a criminal investigation after they tried to report on sand mining in south India – an assignment they took up because Indian journalists had been threatened for reporting on the issue. |
| Arthur Bouvart and Jules Giraudat arrived in Tamil Nadu state in November to investigate the environmental impact of mining sand, a resource that has become scarce and increasingly lucrative amid a decades-long Asian construction boom. | Arthur Bouvart and Jules Giraudat arrived in Tamil Nadu state in November to investigate the environmental impact of mining sand, a resource that has become scarce and increasingly lucrative amid a decades-long Asian construction boom. |
| The journalists, who were in India on tourist visas, work for Forbidden Stories, which pursues investigations other reporters have been killed, jailed or threatened over. | The journalists, who were in India on tourist visas, work for Forbidden Stories, which pursues investigations other reporters have been killed, jailed or threatened over. |
| Villagers pay tragic price as Indian building boom drives demand for sand | Villagers pay tragic price as Indian building boom drives demand for sand |
| Tamil Nadu has allegedly been the site of rampant illegal extraction of sand and other beach minerals, which activists estimate could have cost the state exchequer at least $300m (£235m) in lost revenues. | Tamil Nadu has allegedly been the site of rampant illegal extraction of sand and other beach minerals, which activists estimate could have cost the state exchequer at least $300m (£235m) in lost revenues. |
| Indian journalist Sandhya Ravishankar says she was stalked and harassed last year after publishing a series of investigative reports into the industry, which she alleged was allowed to operate illegally by colluding with state and federal officials. | Indian journalist Sandhya Ravishankar says she was stalked and harassed last year after publishing a series of investigative reports into the industry, which she alleged was allowed to operate illegally by colluding with state and federal officials. |
| According to a report filed by the Tamil Nadu state police, Bouvart and Giraudat entered a facility belonging to Indian Rare Earths Limited (Irel), a national mining agency, and spent five minutes on the premises before they were asked to leave the “prohibited place”. | According to a report filed by the Tamil Nadu state police, Bouvart and Giraudat entered a facility belonging to Indian Rare Earths Limited (Irel), a national mining agency, and spent five minutes on the premises before they were asked to leave the “prohibited place”. |
| The police document says the men, accompanied by a local priest, were permitted to enter the premises by a security guard, did not film inside and left when asked to do so. | The police document says the men, accompanied by a local priest, were permitted to enter the premises by a security guard, did not film inside and left when asked to do so. |
| Giraudat told the Guardian he and Bouvart had gone directly to the site’s manager’s office. “We asked if we could make a visit, they said no, asked us to leave and we left,” he said. | Giraudat told the Guardian he and Bouvart had gone directly to the site’s manager’s office. “We asked if we could make a visit, they said no, asked us to leave and we left,” he said. |
| 'You can get killed': journalists living in fear as states crack down | 'You can get killed': journalists living in fear as states crack down |
| Both left India before police began their inquiries. They are being investigated for trespassing and visa violations. | |
| Two Indian journalists, D Anandhakumar and M Sriram, who had been assisting the French journalists with translation – but did not accompany them to Irel – were held by police for two days without explanation, and released after their detention became the subject of media enquiries. They have been asked to return to assist police with the investigation and fear they could be charged. | Two Indian journalists, D Anandhakumar and M Sriram, who had been assisting the French journalists with translation – but did not accompany them to Irel – were held by police for two days without explanation, and released after their detention became the subject of media enquiries. They have been asked to return to assist police with the investigation and fear they could be charged. |
| A local branch of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata party has put posters up in the area where Irel is based, warning: “There are French spies in Kanyakumari district. People beware.” | A local branch of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata party has put posters up in the area where Irel is based, warning: “There are French spies in Kanyakumari district. People beware.” |
| But Kanyakumari unit of the @BJP4India continues to propagate the notion that these journalists are "SPIES" and have embarked on hyper-nationalist alarmist propaganda. These posters by the BJP state - "There are French spies in Kanyakumari district. People beware." (11/n) pic.twitter.com/pX3cMp7cil | But Kanyakumari unit of the @BJP4India continues to propagate the notion that these journalists are "SPIES" and have embarked on hyper-nationalist alarmist propaganda. These posters by the BJP state - "There are French spies in Kanyakumari district. People beware." (11/n) pic.twitter.com/pX3cMp7cil |
| India’s junior shipping minister, Pon Radhakrishnan, also told reporters last week the two journalists were spies who had arrived in India via “the sea route”. | India’s junior shipping minister, Pon Radhakrishnan, also told reporters last week the two journalists were spies who had arrived in India via “the sea route”. |
| A report released on Wednesday by Article 19, a group that campaigns for freedom of expression and information, said such rights had declined more steeply in India in the past four years than in almost any other country. | A report released on Wednesday by Article 19, a group that campaigns for freedom of expression and information, said such rights had declined more steeply in India in the past four years than in almost any other country. |
| “Seven journalists were killed last year,” the group’s report said. “Journalists have been subjected to online smear campaigns and threats by Hindu nationalists, contributing to a climate of self-censorship.” | “Seven journalists were killed last year,” the group’s report said. “Journalists have been subjected to online smear campaigns and threats by Hindu nationalists, contributing to a climate of self-censorship.” |
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