Speaking at a symposium on "Seeking Free and Responsible Media" Organized by Center for South Asian Studies in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in the capital, they noted that the incidents of media rights violations were on the rise in recent years due to impunity persisting in the country.[break]
Presenting a paper on Changing Face of Danger for Nepalese Journalists, journalist Sanjaya Dhakal said various armed outfits operating in eastern hills and Tarai districts have made life difficult for journalists.
The Federation of Nepali Journalists said one journalist was killed and 20 were physically assaulted in 2010. Likewise, 42 journalists were received threats from various gangs and criminal groups while 33 others manhandled during the year.
"As the situation continues to exist, there is still need for Nepali media to wage struggle for their professional and physical safety as well as to establish freedom of press and of expression in Nepal," said journalist Chandra Shekhar Adhikari in his paper.
Journalists Anil Giri and Kosh Raj Koirala noted that despite regulations and statutory guarantee of press freedom, Nepali press has yet to feel secure due to failure of the government to take action against those involved in media rights violations.
At the symposium, media expert Dharma Adhikari while shedding light on media agenda and public agenda said various public agenda have failed to become media agenda. "The gulf between the media agenda and the public agenda invites both the sides and other relevant constituencies to consider working through differences," he said.
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