Survival At Stake
Hunted by the rumor of draconian press law, Nepalese media persons are struggling for their own survival
By A CORRESPONDENT
With the leakage of news regarding the proposed draft of new Press Ordinance, Nepalese journalists have come out to the street to protest against it. In the last two demonstrations at prohibited areas, more than 50 journalists were detained and police used force to control the peaceful rally of the reporters.
The demonstration took place just a few hours after King Gyanendra’s plane took off from Tribhuwan International Airport for Doha , capital of Qatar . International media widely covered the arrest of 50 journalists and the force used by police sending a wrong signal to the global community. Like just a week ago, president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bishnu Nisthuri, former president of Nepal Press Council Harihar Birahi and other reporters were arrested from Ratnapark.
At a time when the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 is derailed, the media sector – which is in the process of learning - also has lost its direction. When the new proposed ordinance was released, all media persons – majority of them were socialized in chaotic environment – found no time to judge and responded to the call of Federation Nepalese Journalists to come to streets.
There are many reservations over the role of media in the last 14 years but it is the media, which played important role to justify the present actions.
As news was reported a month ago about final preparation of a draconian law to curb media freedom, the country’s media professionals were naturally and automatically agitated. Following the suspension of news broadcasting in FM Radio stations, a group of radio journalists were already in agitation demanding right to broadcast news. The report - which is yet to be confirmed or denied by the government – sparked a new wave of agitations.
According to the report, the proposed Press Ordinance will restrict the right to information. “The proposed press ordinance that aims to bring about stringent provisions would not only restrict media freedom but is also against the constitutionally guaranteed right to information of general public,” said Bishnu Nisthuri, president of FNJ. “We have to fight back. Otherwise, the draconian law will snatch our freedom.”
With the restoration of democracy 14 years ago, Nepalese media sector enjoyed enormous press freedom. Thanks to the special provisions, which guarantee the rights of media, private sector investment jumped into media sector breaking the monopoly of the government.
From broadsheet dailies to FM Radio Stations and private Television Channels, organized investors jumped in the media opening up new opportunities for many young Nepalese professionals. Despite intense criticism of media, political leaders had never made efforts to control the media.
Having bitter experiences of continual restrictions, censorship and cancellation of registrations of newspapers during Panchayat era, the new constitution makers gave enormous guarantee for the newspapers. Under the Article 13 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 on Press and Publication Right, the press secured enormous and unrestricted freedom. The Article 13 (1) states no news item, article or other reading material shall be censored. Likewise, Article 13 (2) states no press shall be closed or seized for printing any news item, article or other reading material. The Article 13 (3) states the registration of a newspaper or periodical shall not be cancelled. Likewise, the Constitution also guaranteed the Right to Information saying that every citizen has the right to demand and receive information on any matter of public importance.
“The proposed amendment will not make any difference to the freedom of press but it will just safeguard against the criticism of politicians,” said Tanka Dhakal, Minister for Information and Communication.
As the government is yet to announce the proposed ordinance, the journalists are fighting for their own survival.
