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Kathmandu,Saturday May 06, 2000 Baishakh 24, 2057.
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Unjustified blame
Freedom of expression is not only at the heart of democracy,
it is also a key to societal development. To what extent the press in Nepal is free to air
views and defend the interest of the people has yet to be studied, but it is possible to
deduce from general observation that freedom of expression, to write and publish has not
been used effectively enough. Many aspects of political and social life still remain
shrouded in mystery. That is why, as a watchdog, the Nepalese press has not been able to
expose the rampant corruption pervading all sectors of public life.
It often appears that the constitutional Clause that
guarantees all this has been used only for the worse even as issues which ought to be
debated threadbare remain under the carpet. But there are instances when newspapers have
taken up issues which need to be highlighted as they concern public interest. While we
recognise the shortcomings of the Fourth Estate in Nepal, we are nevertheless optimistic
because in the ten years since the restoration of democracy, the press has grown and we
can also witness a rise in professional journalism. This needs to be encouraged.
While one crucial element for a vibrant press is the
commitment to journalism. The second factor which is equally important is the attitude of
members of the political establishment towards legitimate issues that come up for media
debate. The government’s decision to raise the tax on printing paper at a time when
it should be following a policy that encourages the free press is seen as an unfriendly
move by many.
According to reports, some members of the ruling
establishment have lamented the trend followed by newspapers especially since the outbreak
of the Maoist insurgency. Even the Prime Minister went on record saying that the press has
tended to overdo things while reporting events. While it is debatable whether the press
has failed to keep track of events correctly or not, there is no disputing the fact that
the government has failed to contain the unrest. Is it fair then that the press should
take the blame for reporting what may not sound as pleasing to the establishment.
It is the job of the members of the political establishment
to uphold the system, but they have been throwing the ball in the opposite court. This
passing the buck is certainly very irresponsible. Who does not know that today, the system
has gone on to become most corrupt since 1990. As a matter of fact it is the politicians
who should be striving to bring about sanity into the system. This is possible only when
the leaders change their ways and do not give newspapers reasons to write about them.
Politicians need to reform themselves before pointing a finger at the press.
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