NATIONAL 4 - (Spotlight Weekly)

‘No Govt. Will Allow The Press To Justify Terrorist Activities'

— J. P. ANAND GUPTA

A dynamic and young leader of ruling Nepali Congress, Minister for Information and Communications JAYA PRAKASH GUPTA `ANAND' is known as a close confidante of Prime Minister G. P. Koirala. He served as Press Advisor to Koirala during his earlier stint (1991-94). Gupta was in the forefront of the campaign launched by dissident Congress MPs early this year to oust K. P. Bhattarai from his chair. A former journalist and firebrand student leader, Gupta spoke to KESHAB POUDEL and BHAGIRATH YOGI at his residence at Sina Mangal Sunday. Excerpts:

There have been controversies regarding your recent statement that censorship could be imposed upon the media. Could you clarify?

I am being quoted by some media in a wrong way. The constitutions of all democratic countries in the world have provisions to prohibit publications of certain things especially on issues related to the integrity and security of the country or to promote and justify terrorist activities, among others. No civilized or democratic country allows publications or dissemination of such reports through respective laws. Though the constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990, guarantees full press freedom, it prohibits publication of materials on certain issues. We already have a law as per the spirit of our constitution. The government can stop publications of any material intended at promoting or justifying terrorist activities, disrupting social and religious harmony etc. by publishing a notice in the gazette. Knowingly or unknowingly, some Nepali newspapers have been publishing news reports, commentaries etc. in an irresponsible way. The government doesn't intend that the reports related to Maoist activities are completely banned. All we want is the newspapers should not justify the violent means adopted against country's parliamentary politics as correct. Such an act should not be glamorized. Our press should formulate and implement a code of conduct in this regard. If the press can't formulate or implement such code of conduct, all I have said is that the government would have to look for an alternate way to restrict such publications.

You have blamed that some big media houses are going against the democratic norms. Do you think they would like to risk their investment?

I haven't said that some big media houses are working against democracy. What I said is some big broadsheet newspapers are encouraging such a tendency, if succeeded politically or through terrorist activity, which will target them at the first place. I disagree with the way these papers are encouraging such acts. I wanted to caution them that these activities would restrict their freedom and put their investment under threat.

But this would be tantamount to curbing the freedom of expression. Isn't it?

I can give you a number of examples from around the world. Even in the US, there are separate laws, which demarcate the jurisdiction of press freedom. Can you expect a US press justifying the terrorist activities being unleashed by Bin Laden? No. I haven't told anything out of our constitution. I am not talking about press censorship or formulating new laws to curb the freedom of expression. As a journalist, I disagree with such move. What I have raised is a very specific issue. If the government issues such order in future, there will be no room for the misuse of law.

You have been reported as preparing for introducing a press censorship law. Is it true?

Our society is very sensitive toward the issue of press freedom since it has spent three decades without any such rights. This in no way wants to see its freedom being curtailed from anywhere. I am fully satisfied to see that not only Nepali Congress but all the political parties are committed toward press freedom. But sometimes suspicions get created while talking about ordinary procedural matters. For example, one of the four student organizations supporting the `Nepal Bandh' was a pro-Maoist student organization. The government felt that the torch-lit demonstrations on the eve of the `bandh' (shutdown strike) could result into violence. So, the government decided to ban that specific demonstration. No civilized country in the world allows such demonstrations. But this issue was even raised as an assault upon the democratic rights of the people. This is perhaps a manifestation of over-sensitivity of our society toward our rights.

So, can you assure that no such law will be introduced in future?

Nearly 1700 newspapers are registered within the country now. Only a few hundred of them are being published regularly. Once a publication gets registered its almost impossible to de-list it even if it is irregular. Those papers, which don't get published even once in a year, are recorded as regular papers in the government's records. This has created problems for the government in maintaining records of the newspapers. It is the duty of the government to facilitate regular publications through advertisements and other means. The government introduced an amendment bill which would identify a newspaper as `irregular' if it hadn't come out even after four or five years of getting registered and omit it from the records. This was a managerial issue and was not related to the freedom of the newspaper. But the opposition linked it with the freedom of the press. The bill was passed later after reaching into a consensus with the opposition and press federations.

While in opposition, parties talk about full freedom to the press but start expressing grievances about this very freedom as soon as they are in power. Why?

It's true to some extent. While in opposition, we condemn irregularities and demand new means to strengthen democracy. We also talked about more freedom but at the same time maintained that press should not be the carrier of terrorism. But being in the government, we are in a position to act. So, we have pushed forward a debate about formulating the right to information act. The government has already expressed its commitment in the parliament. But when the government makes its proposal, the opposition and press become more progressive. This is the nature of debate. This should not mean that the government has been conservative or orthodox. Once the government makes public a policy document, it invites wide attention and generates a debate. For example, before adopting the policy of liberal economic policies by the Nepali Congress government in the nineties, there were no private airlines in the country. The only broadsheet newspaper was the government-owned Gorkhapatra daily. Radio Nepal was the only radio station in the country.

How do you see at the debates generated by communications related decisions taken by the NC governments?

Our basic telephone system was one of the worst in the region when Nepali Congress was elected to the government (in early nineties). We brought in one of the most modern technologies in Nepal. It has generated debate. During my tenure as the Communications Minister, we introduced cellular mobile phones for the first time in Nepal. We are going to make available 50,000 mobile sets along the East-West highway in near future. It also created debate. For the first time in the history, I issued license to the private sector to run F. M. stations commercially. It also generated a debate. Recently, I have taken a policy decision to allow television broadcasting to the private sector. A debate is going on about positive or adverse impacts. Our government allowed transmission of cable televisions. I have recently decided to broadcast the programs of Nepal Television through satellite. We need more bands and channels for Radio Nepal too. We have introduced more bands for our regional transmission. We have already introduced a new band from Surkhet and going to introduce another band from Bardibas. This has also created debate. Given the geographical situation of our country, to expand telephone facilities in the country through terrestrial links is a very costly technology. So, I took decision to acquire the latest WLL (Wireless Local Loop) technology to expand telephone facilities in the country even in the remote areas. Since the government has done several new things, it may have generated concern and debate among people. I see it as a process of evolution or development.

You are not raising the issue of privatizing Gorkhapatra Corporation of late. Why?

I have told the Parliament that the government should not run newspapers. The manifesto of Nepali Congress also says the same thing. Moreover, the private newspapers are doing quite well. But when we talk of a century-old Gorkhapatra, the aspect of affection arises. So, we are considering different modalities to run this organization such as a cooperative model, government-private sector partnership,totally privatizing it etc. We are doing a serious home work and studying different reports that have been submitted to the Ministry. But my personal view is itís not possible for the the government to continue running newspapers like Gorkhapatra. The government may, however, continue to own the electronic medium looking at their sensitivity.

How do you see the growing trend of private sector investment in the media?

Itís a very positive development. In a democracy, media must be powerful to promote transparency. Media can help make the government, opposition and corporate sector accountable to the people more than any law. But our homework is still weak. We enacted a Communications law a decade back and opened the investment in the media sector for private sector. But how to regulate the flow of investment into this sector and make it accountable in the context of the sensitivities of the nation is yet to be worked out. Time has not passed yet. Our parliament can still formulate laws as per the need of the society.

‘The Center Should Be Developed As Security Printing Press’

— Ramesh Nath Joshi

RAMESH NATH JOSHI, General Manager of Janak Education Materials Center, has been working in the center for long. After his appointment to the top post of the center, he has changed the pattern of book distribution. For the first time in many years, the center has been able to distribute the text books of schools on time. Excerpts:

What are the existing challenges of the center?

One of the major challenges is in the distribution of books. As the new academic session begins during monsoon, it is very difficult to supply books and other materials to the schools located in the remote parts of the country. The floods and landslides often disturb our supply system but we are able to supply on time thanks to the coordination and support of teachers, guardians and local community. Nepal has a very difficult geographical terrain coupled with poor road infrastructure which makes the job of distribution an extremely difficult one.

How many books do you supply annually?

We supply more than 10 million books a year. As a sole publisher of books for the government school curriculum, we have to print the books on time and distribute it before the beginning of academic year.

What is the technical capability of the center?

The center is now able to print books of international standards. With the support from DANIDA, we have obtained a machine for Royal binding facilities. Our publications are of high quality like those printed in other parts of the world. Our text books also are quite durable.

What needs to be done to modernize the center?

There is a need to develop the center as a security printing press. The country can save up to Rs five billion a year by developing the center as security printing press. As Information Technology is leading the world, the education curriculum should also be modified in accordance with the development of the IT. We have to develop the audio visual curriculum, too.

How do you see the distribution system of the center?

We have a perfect delivery system as we are selling books in all parts of the country at same price. One of the major highlights of the distribution system is that the books are available throughout the country before the beginning of the academic session.

What is your opinion regarding the involvement of private sector in this area?

I don't think the private sector will be able to supply books at the same rate throughout the country. It is better to have private holdings in the center.

Is it not possible to divide the distribution and printing system?

If we do so, the remote parts of the country will not get the books. We are now selling the books at half prices to them.

What is the transaction of the center?

We have annual transaction volume of Rs 250 million. Ours is a service oriented institution.

What are the other activities of the center?

We are concentrating on the development of Human Resource, too. We have started giving training. We are also planning to start a two-year diploma course on offset printing.

What can be done to improve the center's performance?

We are doing our best. There were no complaints this year regarding the distribution of books as we made sure to deliver them on time. The Ministry of Education should also give more support to enhance the center.