On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, the Nepali media is also hoping for a significant improvement in the situation of press freedom with the changed political scenario in the country.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), an umbrella organization of Nepali journalists organized various programmes to mark the day terming the last fifteen months in the history of Nepali journalism a ‘black era.’
According to statistics, two journalists were killed, 88 tortured, 11 journalists abducted, 282 attacked and 707 were arrested in the past 15 months. Similarly, 39 journalists were displaced, 250 sacked, and 108 newspapers were forced to halt publication.
The government also blocked at least twenty-five news websites in Nepal, introduced draconian laws to curb Press freedom, arrested and assaulted many journalists specially after the King took power on February 1 last year.
Authorities raided private radio stations and banned broadcasting of news from the stations for a few months until the Supreme Court gave relief to the FM stations by allowing them to air news.
On the other hand, Nepali media persons have been brutally attacked by the Maoist rebels as well. Maoists killed two journalists, assaulted and threatened many others during the period of their decade-long insurgency. Maoists have barred, and are still barring, newsmen from reporting freely from their strongholds even though their leaders have time and again expressed commitment to respect press freedom.
In his message on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day May 3), Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala lauded the role of press during the pro-democracy movement of the country.
He expressed commitment to provide appropriate assistance for the protection of rights of media.
Meanwhile, in his message on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, UN-Secretary General, Kofi Annan, expressed firm support for the universal right to freedom of expression and urged all governments to reaffirm their commitment to the rights to seek, receive and impart information.
Similarly, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual report that Nepal alone was responsible for more than half of all cases of censorship worldwide. RSF counted 567 instances, while 145 journalists were physically attacked or harassed, the RSF report said. The report also said that journalists in Nepal are exposed in zones held by Maoists.