Media situation has not improved as expected even after democracy: FNJ

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has said that media situation in Nepal has not improved as expected even after the restoration of democracy six months earlier.

Releasing its ‘trend analysis’ of the media after the restoration of democracy in April this year, the FNJ today said intimidation of journalists and attempts to curtail media freedom have not come to an end, although positive developments such as formation of a taskforce to implement the Working Journalist Act and scrapping of Media Ordinance and one-door advertisement policy enforced by the erstwhile royal regime have been seen.

“Despite few significant steps and positive developments media situation has not improved as expected. Violations of media rights continue even after the restoration of democracy,” a FNJ statement said. “Nature of attack has changed but journalists are still facing threats and attacks especially from Maoists, various anti-social groups and also political parties,” it said.

The FNJ recorded at least 32 cases of violations of media rights and intimidation of journalists by different sides including the army, police, Maoists and local administrations.

Amongst the victims, a number reporters and photo journalists were physically assaulted, some were threatened while others were mistreated while covering news, according to the federation, which is the umbrella organisation of all journalists in Nepal.

The FNJ also noted that journalists who reached Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar to cover the summit talks between seven-party alliance and Maoists on 15 October were ill treated by the Maoists present there.

The incidents of violation of media rights clearly proved that even after the restoration of democracy, journalists have not achieved complete press freedom and the problems of Nepalese press and journalists are still pervasive, the FNJ said.

“Although the Nepalese media today do not have to face the challenges it did during the royal regime and it certainly is passing through a comparatively easier phase, journalists still confront threats, assault and ill-treatment,” the statement further said. nepalnews.com mk Oct 30 06