Govt interference on press freedom flayed

Post Report

MORANG, June 7 - Intellectuals, independent entrepreneurs and politicians in the home town of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala have angrily reacted to the arrest of Editor Yuva Raj Ghimire, Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya and Director Binod Raj Gyawali on sedition charge under the direct order of Prime Minister Koirala.

Residents of Biratnagar have said the government has started the rule of despotic nature trampling on the democratic constitution of the country under its feet, naked interference on the press and violating the people’s right to information.

Chairman of Intellectual Council Morang, Dinesh Shrestha said arresting the editor and the managing director and director of Kantipur daily, the symbol of fearless and impartial journalism under the direct order of Prime Minister Koirala was a direct and naked attack on the freedom of press.

Politician Durga Subedi said the Koirala Government has made the undemocratic assault because it could not tolerate the freedom of speech and writing exercised by Kantipur daily in democracy.

Subedi further said Koirala has tried to muzzle the voice of Kantipur daily which has been exposing his immoral, undemocratic and corrupt activities. Kantipur should, instead, further sharpen its edge and bring the truth to light, he added.

Former Minister Radha Prasad Ghimire said the government which was tight-lipped about the tragic incident that occurred at the Narayanhity Royal Palace, has displayed its despotic nature by its interference with Kantipur daily and the press.

He said the government gave full description to the foreign news media on Saturday itself and it bows its head before the foreign news media, "but why is it taking action against a national daily which has fearlessly published an article related with the incident?", he asked.

"If the press is charged with sedition merely when it publishes an article, what is the difference between the Panchayat and democracy? Freedom and objectivity of the press have become meaningless here after Wednesday’s assault on the press," chief of Degree Campus, Biratnagar, Ramesh Koirala said.

Nepali Congress Mahasamiti members Amrit Aryal and Sanjay Bhattarai said the government has axed itself by interfering with the free press and demanded immediate and unconditional release of the editor and managers.

Chairman of Industry Association Morang Sushil Dhanawat has said people have started to feel that the government has started to function despotically after the Wednesday’s flagrant intervention on the fourth estate.

He added that Koirala’s undemocratic action against Kantipur was a revenge against the daily for exposing his corrupt activities in the past.

"Koirala has taken action against Kantipur daily for exposing his corrupt activities but why has he not shown courage to take action against Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai and Prachand?", asks Chitra Bahadur Timilsina, an entrepreneur.

Similarly, a meeting of Nepal Journalists Federation Morang branch held here on Thursday vehemently opposed the blatant attack of the government on the press.

Regretting the government interference, the federation demanded immediate and unconditional release of the arrested editor and director and managing director. If the government does not take this demand seriously, the federation has decided that all the journalists would launch an agitation, according to branch president Dipak Dahal.

Former president of the branch Mohan Bhandari said it would be unfortunate for the country if all the journalists were compelled to fight against the government’s wrong step.

Similarly, the district executive committees of CPN (UML), CPN (ML) and Nepal Sadbhawana parties have also termed the government’s blatant interference on Kantipur Publications as an act of cowardice.

It may be recalled here that Prime Minister Koirala had told Kantipur reporter in Biratnagar, towards the third week of April, that Kantipur daily was his greatest enemy.

Similarly, Central Vice-Chairman of Press Chautari Yagya Sharma said the entire journalists of the country would not remain silent if the charge of sedition is levelled against the editor and managers of Kantipur only on the basis of the article written by Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai."How will people receive real information if the freedom of the press is muzzled?," he added.

BBC eastern regional representative Tank Khanal said journalists should be ready to fight against the government if the government does not change its attitude towards the freedom of the press.

Similarly, President of Nepal Journalists Federation Nawalparasi branch Krishna Bahadur Karki has expressed his serious objection to the arrest of Kantipur editor and directors and demanded their immediate release.

Our Nawalparasi reporter says Karki has said in a press communique that the arrest of the editor and directors was an attack on democracy.

Mob attacks police post

BHAKTAPUR, June 7 (RSS)- Police personnel stationed at the Tachapal Datratreya police post, Bhakatpur municipality left their post after being attacked by violent demonstrators at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Seven police personnel on duty were forced to abandon the post after the violent mob who were demanding the facts about the murderer of the Royal Couple, started pelting stones at the post.

A police team sent from Bhaktapur district police office had lobbed three tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

The enraged demonstrators set fire on some of the furniture of the police post and books of Yug Bijaya Library, established in 2014 B.S.

According to Bhaktapur district police office, three police personnel sustained injuries in the attack.

Three out of nine demonstrators held in police custody have been released today after necessary investigation.

the demonstrators who were infuriated by the sad demise of their majesties the king and the queen, had chanted slogans at datratreya, sukuldhoka, sakota, taumadhi and khauma for immediate probe into the tragic royal palace incident. rss

Their Majesties’ ‘favourite getaway’, Pokhara mourns

By Amrit Bhadgaunle

POKHARA, June 7 - This tourism city, also known as the second capital, has not returned to normalcy since the tragic demise of the beloved King Birendra and Queen Aishworya and their family in the Narayanhiti Palace last Friday.

Their late Majesties used to enjoy here most of their time after the capital city of Kathmandu. Even ordinary people from this region would directly meet the late King and queen during their sojourn in the cosy winter palace, known as Ratna Palace, situated on the shore of Phewa Lake.

But the bygone days are no more. Only the reminiscences have remained in the subconscious mind of the general folks. Their late Majesties used to enjoy the panoramic views of Annapurna Himalaya and contrast natural landscape of this beautiful valley. They were friendly to all people. The late majesties used to meet almost all the renowned people in their disciplines from this region during their holidays.

A local Ganesh Bahadur Gurung recollects those days when he discussed the Maoist problem with the late King for almost one and half hours.

Gurung,whom the late King used to grant regular audience since his accession to the Throne in 1971, says the late King used to discuss about democracy and politics every time he met.

"Panchayat was a political game. But leaders did not play the game fairly. That’s why people wanted changes. The current multi-party democracy is also a game, but the present leaders are also not playing this political game as they should," Gurung quoted the late King as saying. He said that he found late King Birendra always worried about democracy and political stability in the country.

Gurung further added that King Birendra wanted to see Pokhara developed as a green city and was much worried about the shrinKing water space of Phewa Lake.

Their late Majesties stayed in Pokhara twice when King Birendra’s birthdays were being celebrated: one in 2033 B.S. and the other in 2054 B.S. People of the city were jubilant to find their beloved King and queen at the time of His late Majesty’s birthday.

The late King left no stones unturned to participate personally in various development works. He inaugurated the 72 km long Pokhara-Baglung highway, Janapriya Campus, Sanskrit Vidyapith and number of other projects in Pokhara.

Every time the late King visited this beautiful valley, he rowed on Phewa Lake and worshipped the Tal Barahi temple, a famous temple located in the middle of the lake. Every time he strolled to and from the Ratna Palace, the late King would talk to the locals informally.

The proprietor of Boomerang Restaurant at Lakeside, Ganesh Bahadur Bhattarai, recalls those days how their late Majesties’ family would come to his restaurant for dinner. Bhattarai said the late King would ask him how his business was going on.

"I am not far away from you. You can meet me whenever you wish," Bhattarai quoted the late King as saying.

Not only he was fond of natural beauty of the Pokhara Valley, late King Birendra was interested to listen poetry from famous litterateurs in the area.

Renowned litterateur Saru Bhakta is highly impressed with simplicity of late Queen Aishworya. Saru Bhakta had been to the palace to recite his poetry for three occasions. Two years ago, litterateurs from the western region had a rare opportunity of talking frankly with their late Majesties during their stay here.

"I do not understand literature that much. But there is someone (hinting at Queen Aishworya) in my family who has a gift of perceiving it," Saru Bhakta quoted the late King. "It was his touching joke with us," Saru said.

Late King was equally interested in tourism sector. Two years ago, local tourism entrepreneur, Jhalak Thapa, recalls his discussions with the late King for a couple of hours on tourism. He said the King had asked him to find out new areas that can help improve Nepal’s tourism industry.

The King was also interested in hunting. Former Zonal Commissioner Laxya Bahadur Gurung, who had accompanied the King in hunting for several occasions, says he has graphic details of those days gone by. He has a collection of photographs of the late King’s interest in hunting in various places like Chitwan, Mustang and Karnali.

"But he was choosy," former zonal commissioner Gurung says, adding that the late King would like to know about the habitat of wildlife, their sources for survival and climate of the given locality. The late Majesties would also participate in dances with their accompanies during the hunting.

He said, "One day morning, I was surprised to see the late queen weeding the garden in the palace and the late King watering on flowers."

Both their Majesties were also religious persons. The priest at the famous Bindyabasini temple, Rudra Nath Poudel, has a vivid recollection of their Majesties’ regular visits to the temple every time they arrived at the city. Priest Poudel has been sad ever since he learned about the tragic demise of his beloved Royal couple.

"The Royal couple would send worshipping items in case they were busy for other businesses," Poudel said.

Lila Bhakta Acharya, Vice-President of the Vishwa Hindu Federation, is also deeply shocked over the unfortunate incident that claimed the entire Royal family. "People will remember the late Majesties for generations to come," Acharya said.