New Provision Limits Press Freedom

Freedom Forum has been concerned over the Prime Minister's address in the Legislature-Parliament on September 16, 2011. While addressing the parliament, Prime Minister Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai said, 'Anyone setting up new media house now onwards needs to create a bond (financial guarantee) like other industries'. It indicates that the government was planning to treat media as other industries which is objectionable. "The media, which is the voice of the voiceless, need to be free from the government control in a democratic system. In the name of making media secured, setting up bond is against the constitution. It indicates the government's possibility to curtail the free flow of information though the Prime Minister said the government was committed to press Freedom." said Taranath Dahal, Chairman of Freedom Forum. Similarly, managing insurance to the journalists by the government which Prime Minister mentioned in the address is another tactic to bring the media under State's control. In any democratic system, the media is not controlled by the State. Freedom Forum therefore reiterates that media, which is the indispensable part of the democracy, serves the people best when it is free, and out of clutch of State. ---------------- Narayan Ghimire Media Officer