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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Press Perils A non-government
organization highlights the status of media freedom during a tumultuous year By A CORRESSPONDENT Following the restoration of democracy, Nepalese media have seen unprecedented growth and enjoyed unlimited freedom. But the situation is dismal right now. After the upsurge of Maoist violence and the imposition of the state of emergency last November, Nepalese media have been facing several challenges of survival. The year 2001 was very bad one for the media. Journalists faced several kinds of restrictions and intimidation from the security forces and the Maoists. Caught in the crossfire, journalists encountered enormous difficulties and freedom of the press and statement came under serious scrutiny of the state. Following the mysterious killings of royal family members on June 1, 2001, the year had seen many ups and downs. The government and Maoists began peace talks, which were broken after a few months. The Maoists mounted attacks on army barracks and took their war against the state to new levels. Responding to the Maoist threat, the government mobilized the Royal Nepalese Army, imposed a state of emergency in the country, and declared the rebels terrorists. As the war between security personnel and Maoist rebels continues, the media have lost their access to cover the events. Security officials have detained scores of journalists. In a country where there is no clear distinction between journalists and politicians, there is always a possibility of misuse of journalism profession for political cause. As many reporters and editors are still affiliated with political factions, security agencies found some excuse to arrest journalists. Following the royal killings, the government arrested Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of Kantipur daily, and two publishers of newspaper under the State Security Act for publishing an article by a senior Maoist leader. Although they were released and the government withdrew the cases against them, the episode had a chilling effect across the country. Soon thereafter, Maoist rebels abducted a group of journalists who were on their way to the rebel stronghold of Rukum and held them for a couple of days. These two events mirrored the larger threats the media continue to face. "Status of Press Freedom and Freedom of Speech" is a compilation of all these events. It details the actions and events taken against the media. Despite its small size, the volume tries to cover almost all the events that occurred in 2001. Coming from an institution that focuses on human rights, the book links the violation of freedom of speech to the larger issue of human rights violation. "As the conflict continues, there have been continuous attacks upon media from different interest groups. So, it is essential to engage in continuous advocacy and lobbying against media restrictions and for the promotion of press and press freedom," says Shobhakar Budathoki, general secretary of Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies in his preface. The group has been publishing such reports annually. One of the important characteristics of the volume is its comprehensive coverage of all actions committed against press freedom and freedom of speech. Released by senior journalist Madan Mani Dixit, the report also highlights investment patterns in the media and other development in the sector. There are also references to legal actions taken against the media, which provide a broader view of the hazardous state of the sector. Status Of Press Freedom and Freedom
of Speech |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
