NAM's Relevance

THE world has changed drastically since the creation of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the early sixties. The originators of the idea of non-alignment had many reasons why such a movement was a necessity at that time. One overriding concern was the need to protect nations getting caught up in the superpower rivalry of that time. Since the end of Cold War, however, the world body is trying to find relevance in world affairs where the replacement of bi-polarity by uni-polarity has had its own new implications. The search for NAM's space in the world dealings continues. It is against this backdrop that the 13th NAM summit is taking place in Kuala Lumpur next week where Nepal, too, will be participating. What should NAM focus on? Where can it best serve its member countries? Speakers at a talk programme on "The Role of NAM in the Changing World Context", on Thursday, were unanimous in their view that the world forum needed to be more effective in favour of the small and economically poor nations. Indeed, giving a strong voice on behalf of the weak nations should, undoubtedly, be the major thrust of the movement at a time when the world is occupied with the twin challenges of terrorism and globalisation.

NAM can be relevant only if it continues to matter in different world fora. For it to be relevant, it must sound and act like a forum that espouses the cause of the small and economically poor nations that are buffeted by the juggernaut of globalisation. As a speaker at the talk rightly pointed out, the economic sphere of the least developed countries like Nepal had greatly diminished and had been confined only in the political realm. This is a dangerous trend that has the potential of rebellion on the part of the weaker states as they see their voices more and more marginalised in the cacophony of globalisation. NAM as a group must make them heard. Then, there is the question of playing the role of peace-builder. The growing nuclear race, for instance, in the South Asian sub-continent, where a large number of the world's poor live, must be a matter of concern for a world grouping like NAM whose members mostly come from the category of poor nations. Similarly, it must play an active role in preventing or containing wars in the world's hotspots. NAM's relevance, without doubt, will be determined by how it can effectively play a prominent role in the pressing issues of more equitable world economic order and of conflict prevention and mitigation.

Role Of Press

MINISTER for Information and Communications Ramesh Nath Pandey very prominently elaborated the role of the press in the modern society and said that the state, press and civil society have equal responsibility in the preservation and promotion of democracy and interest of the nation. Addressing a colloquium on the "Role of Press in Protection of Democracy", organised on the occasion of 53rd Democracy Day by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists in Kathmandu, the other day, Minister Pandey said that the press needs to disseminate information as per the needs and expectation of the society and the state. Free, unbiased and independent press is the hallmark of democracy. In a democracy, press has a greater role to play for the protection of rights of the people by remaining vigilant about the activities of the government and act as a bridge between the people and the state. It is this reason why the press is called as the watchdog and also the Fourth Estate. Press not only disseminates information but also educates people and builds public opinion on certain national issues. Thus, as said by Minister Pandey, the press needs to be extra cautious and responsible in disseminating information. If the press becomes irresponsible and always looks for sensational stories without paying attention to their authencity, the consequences on the society would definitely be negative and damage the very spirit and image of the free press. Nepalese press, especially after the restoration of democracy, has grown significantly not only in quantity but also in quality. The press in Nepal is not, in anyway, inferior to the press in any South Asian country. Nepalese press is getting mature, responsible and professional over the days. This is a very encouraging trend and development to be acknowledged. The state has also fully guaranteed freedom to the press. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 has clearly stated that the registration of any newspaper and media organisation cannot be cancelled on the basis of the materials printed and aired. Similarly, the government has brought about policies and enacted necessary laws for professional development of the Nepalese press. Against this background, the remarks of Minister Pandey, who is also the spokesperson of the government, are a reminder of our responsibility and the commitment of the government for the professional development and independence of the press in the country, which all media people need to take seriously and sincerely.