Freedom Forum condemns attack on Information Officer

Freedom Forum's attention has been drawn towards the attack on Information Officer at the District Development Committee, Salyan. Information Officer Purna Bahadur Oli was attacked by Lok Bahadur Dangi, a local political leader belonging to the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), at the office of the Local Development Officer on March 20, reasoning his NGO was not selected for a program. Talking to Freedom Forum's RTI desk, Information Officer Oli said, "Dangi, all of a sudden, attacked me at the DDC Office when I was briefing Local Development Officer about the selection of the NGOs for the program in the district." He added that political leader Dangi spoke foul on him. After Oli filed a case of public office against Dangi, the latter is in detention. Freedom Forum, an organization working for the right to information, and advocating for the strengthening of both demand and supply sides of information to boost transparency, vehemently condemns the attack on information officer. It has discouraged the concerned Information officer and his office indicating hostility in delivering service. The information officers at the public agencies must be protected, promoted and strengthened so that they can contribute better to build good governance being accountable to the public. Therefore, the local authority is strongly demanded to take stringent punitive measures to curb such incidents in the days ahead. For More Information Freedom Forum Thapathali, Kathmandu Post Box No: 24292 Phone No. 4102030, 4102022 Website: www.nepalpressfreedom1.org; www.freedom1forum.org.np Email: monitoring@freedom1forum.org.np;  info@freedom1forum.org.np;