Press Freedom Day being observed
Working journalists and media freedom activists took out a morning rally in Kathmandu on Thursday to mark the International Press Freedom Day.
The rally that began from Bhrikuti Mandap passed through various places in the city before finally turning into a mass gathering at the same place.
Addressing the mass gathering, former president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ) Tara Nath Dahal said that media environment in Nepal has not improved over the period of one year of democracy restoration. He said the noticeable cause was due to delay in promulgation of media related acts.
Similarly, President of the FNJ Bishnu Nisthuri speaking on the occasion demanded that the government should immediately implement the laws including the right to information act and working journalists act.
President of South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) Nepal chapter Gopal Thapaliya alleged that the government and the political parties have ignored media after the restoration of democracy.
Another former president of the FNJ Suresh Acharya and president of Nepal Press Union Bal Krishna Chapagain demanded that the government must ensure security of the journalists.
They also expressed solidarity with the ongoing agitation by the journalists and staffs of the Nepal 1 television. The agitating journalists of Nepal 1 have decided to start hunger strike from MAy 3 to press for their cause.
Media organisations are organising various functions across the country as part of the press freedom day celebration.
World Press Freedom Day is a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is celebrated worldwide on May 3 every year.
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, May 3 is the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
Meanwhile, in a press statement UNMIN spokesperson Kieran Dwyer has stated that the UNMIN sees freedom of opinion and expression as essential elements to a successful peace process in Nepal . "Press and media freedom has proved vital to the protection of democratic principles in Nepal in the past, and will continue to be essential in the transition period ahead," he stated.
"As the Interim Government makes preparations for the Constituent Assembly election, all Nepalis people have the right to information about this process and how they can participate in it. The media has a key role to play to ensure that this information is disseminated to people in all parts of Nepal. It is especially important that people in rural and remote parts of Nepal have access to media and information, including women from all communities." nepalnews.com ia May 03 07
