Kathmandu, May 3
Freedom Forum, an NGO working for press freedom and freedom of expression, says the Nepali press has been brought under state surveillance of late.
In its annual report released on Sunday on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the organisation, however, maintains, “Despite sheer political hostility and intolerance, an active role of journalists and media houses to save free press by holding public authorities and officials accountable for their misconduct and irregularities is worth noting.”
The report reads, “As even the top leadership in political parties, especially the ruling one, is showing severe intolerance, other state apparatus are encouraged to follow suit. It is resulted in belittling of the role of the free press in a democracy, panicked journalists, and fomented efforts to control information regime.”
Whereas 104 incidents of violation of press freedom were reported last year, int increased to 107 this year (May 1, 2019-April 30, 2020), according to the organisation. These cases affected 206 journalists in total.
The report has also mentioned that the outbreak of the Covid-19 in the past month has added additional challenges to the status of press freedom in Nepal. “It has resulted in journalists’ loss of jobs, closure of many small media and curtailment of news from the big media. Citizen’s right to information, free speech, free press, and the entire media industry have been badly dented with this.”
