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Kathmandu Wednesday January 03, 2001 Paush 19, 2057.
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Unwarranted interference
The Kathmandu district administration, most
certainly at the prodding of the Koirala government, has done the press in Nepal a great
disservice by calling in the publisher of a Nepali daily and questioning him regarding the
outbreak of protest demonstrations that took place in the capital last week. The
government was no doubt appeasing India, which has launched unfounded allegations against
the Nepalese press with reference to the last week’s protests. Our ambassador in New
Delhi, was more than prompt in blaming the media as were others. Yet almost all media in
the country have reported responsibly about the whole affairs. They have faithfully
informed their readers and listeners about the events that took place in the country and
why they took place. At no point has any of the responsible Nepalese media ever mentioned
that the concerned Indian actor actually made the anti-Nepal remarks attributed to him.
What they have done is report the events that took place. If reporting news of events and
incidents that happened is wrong in the eyes of the government elected by the people, it
only shows that the government has little faith in the concept of the freedom of the
press. Clearly the government wants to pay lip service to this concept but in reality it
does just the opposite.
This is not the only time that such a thing
has happened. The government has had no qualms about detaining journalists on false
charges, preventing newspapers from reaching their destinations and conducting
"search" of newspaper offices, to mention only a few democratic aberrations
committed by our democratic government. Yet the Information and Communications Minister
who promptly banned Indian movies featuring Hrithik Roshan without even bothering to find
out facts goes scot-free. Perhaps, his banning of the films and the DPM Poudel’s
later boast that the government "has already banned Roshan films" was more
responsible for the people’s fury than all the reporting in the Nepalese media put
together.
The government surely has no basis for
"summoning" the publisher of the newspaper, and much less in paroling him to
appear before the Chief District Officer’s office next week. The Koirala government
may be appeasing India by doing this is infringing upon the fundamental rights of a Nepali
and a newspaper publisher whose primary duty is to inform the readers of the developments
taking place in the country. If the government has anything other than those relating to
newspaper, it should proceed accordingly. If there are criminal charges against the
publisher regarding his associations and not mere allegations like the Hrithik Roshan
allegations it must proceed according to law and prosecute the person concerned. But this
government cannot do for it seems it cannot even concoct such evidence. What the
government’s gesture shows is nothing but a policy of appeasement towards India
which, thanks to its less than average intelligence service, has indulged in wild
allegations against many Nepalese without any substance. The government perceived by many
to be unduly pliant to New Delhi will do well to realise that a free and vibrant press is
the best safeguard against any conspiracy, against democracy but, above all, a faithful
watchdog against any foreign interference in Nepal’s affairs.
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