HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Defend democracy when it is in peril, PM tells journos

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, May 3:Prime Minister Girija Prasad Kiorala has said that journalists have to be more responsible in their duties at the present context when democracy is at stake.

Nepalese press should play a great role in consolidating the system as they did during the democratic movement in 1990, he said at a talk on “Necessity and Importance of Laws Relating to Right to Information” organised here this afternoon. “Journalists should support creative activities, not destructive ones.”

The programme was jointly organised by Nepal Federation of Journalists (NFJ), UNESCO Mass Media National Committee Nepal and Nepal Press Institute to mark International Press Freedom Day today.

Prime Minister Koirala said that he was determined to resolve the burning issues of the country by maintaining peace and security situation, curbing corruption and restoring good governance in the country. He also appealed to the entire journalists to support him in his campaign of nation building.

Koirala said that he would seek national consensus in the next parliamentary session on the issues including corruption and Maoist insurgency. “I have talked to the Main Opposition Leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on the issues.”

Stating that media monopoly was rising, he expressed anxiety that this would pose threat to press freedom. “The journalists who contributed a lot during the democratic movement have fallen under shadow.”

The government and the journalists should sit together to resolve such problems arising in the field, he added.

Koirala gave away tokens of appreciation to senior journalists Govinda Biyogi, Shishu Prasad Devkota, Mathuraman Singh and Ram Bahadur Chanda. He also gave NFJ Award to Mohammed Rasul, a Jhapa-based RSS correspondent, for dispatching best news.

Similarly, he gave away prizes to Himalaya Times reporter Devendra Raj Bhattarai and Kantipur Publications Director Binod Gyawali for covering the best news items.

Addressing the same function, Information and Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said that the government would not delay in formulating laws related to free flow of information.

He, however, critised some of the print medias’ tendency of supporting the Maoist insurgency. “Though the government is ready to provide the press with freedom, they should make it sure that the freedom is utilised properly.”

Journalists have to remain within the framework of media ethics while covering the nationally important news items.

In line with the Prime Minister, Gupta also said that the journalist who supported the popular movement of 1990 should continue their contribution in consolidating democracy.

Nepal Press Council President Harihar Birahi, Nepal Press Institute President Gokul Pokharel and Editors’ Society President Govinda Biyogi also highlighted the need for laws that ensure press freedom at the programme chaired by NFJ President Suresh Acharya.

Earlier, a rally of about 200 journalist had gone round the city as a part of the programme to mark the International Press Freedom Day.

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