The visiting international media mission has met with the leaders of political parties and the Maoists to seek their commitments for press freedom and freedom of expression.
During a meeting with the visiting media mission at the UML General Secretary’s residence in Koteshwor on Tuesday morning, MK Nepal expressed that the SPA government is committed to press freedom and right to information of the Nepali people.
Led by IFJ president Christopher Warren, the team of international media experts expressed hope that the new government in Nepal would strengthen press freedom, freedom of expression, rights of the working journalists and people’s right to information.
Similarly, during the mission’s meeting with former prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba at his residence in Budhanilkantha this morning, Deuba said that he was in favour of transforming the state run media. “Since, they are run through people’s taxes, they should be made accountable to people at large,” a member of the mission quoted Deuba as saying.
During yet another meeting by the media mission with Maoist chairman Prachanda in the capital on Tuesday, Prachanda expressed that his party was in favour of press freedom in the country. Stating that Maoists had suggested guaranteeing press freedom in the interim constitution, Prachanda vowed to check intimidation of journalists by party cadres, reports said. The place of the meeting was not disclosed.
The mission, which arrived on Sunday for a five-day visit, is in Nepal for the third time. The two previous visits were during the direct rule of the king. International organisations participating in the mission include IFJ, International Media Support (IMS), International News Safety Institute (INSI), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) and ARTICLE 19.