Concern over Press Council Nepal's Press Release

Freedom Forum's attention has been drawn seriously towards a press release issued by the Press Council Nepal Secretariat dated March 6, 2014. In the press release, the Council Secretariat without bearing any signature has one-sidedly stated that Chairperson of Freedom Forum Taranath Dahal mentioned Council as 'a place of corrupts' and the Federation of Nepali Journalists 'suffered from ill intention'. We strongly condemn the baseless press release issued with ill intention of attacking on this organization and the prestige of its chairperson. We have drawn the attention of Council Chairman Borna Bahadur Karki to immediately stop the propaganda made by misusing the Councils' letterhead. "We express concern over the press release with mala fide intention of controlling one's inherent rights of making fair criticism and monitoring for the Freedom of expression. It is vehemently condemnable on the part of the Press Council, an agency with the responsibility to protect and promote respected and professional journalism, to be used as a place for selfish cause," said Dharmendra Jha, General Secretary of the Freedom Forum. We therefore remind the State that the release has come as the latest example of the series of coordinated attack by the State agency on a citizen's rights to Freedom of expression and opinion, and urge to immediately stop such misuse. Earlier, the Freedom Forum had expressed concern over Council's attempt to breach the fundamental rights of Freedom of opinion and expression and right relating to publication, broadcasting and press guaranteed by the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 by asking the Himalayan Television to stop a programme about the medical college. For More Information Freedom Forum Thapathali, Kathmandu Post Box No: 24292 Phone No. 4102030, 4102022 Website: www.freedomforum.org.np | www.nepalpressfreedom.org Email: info@freedomforum.org.np | monitoring@freedomforum.org.np