May 3: Amnesty International Nepal (Amnesty Nepal) has urged the government to ensure press freedom both in law and practice allowing journalists an independent and autonomous working environment to practice their profession.
“The government must uphold press freedom and rectify legal provisions that are contrary to the constitutional guarantees of the freedom of expression,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty Nepal.
"Amnesty International reaffirms its support to press freedom. For us, journalists are the frontline rights defenders who bring to light the abuses and violations suffered by people. Journalism is not a crime, and journalists should not become subjects of violence in the exercise of their profession. It is a fundamental responsibility of the state to ensure security of journalists and freedom of the press," said Thapaliya. The 26th World Press Freedom Day this year presents a stark reminder of Nepal’s steady decline from 100th to the 106th position in the World Press Freedom Index as recorded by Reporters Without Borders.
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According to the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), 36 journalists have been killed since 1996, while dozens of reporters and editors have been arrested, detained and fined in the last decade since the Electronic Transaction Act came into effect in 2006. FNJ reports 60 incidents of violation of press freedom in the last one year.
The past couple of years has witnessed the tightening of laws and regulations in various countries, including Nepal, aimed towards restricting the free operation of media and silencing of the dissenting voices critical of the establishment. In April, Arjun Giri, a Pokhara-based journalist was charged under the Electronic Transaction Act for reporting a financial fraud case.
In 2018, there were a number of arrests of journalists under cyber-crime charges. In September 2018, Mr. Raju Basnet was arrested merely for posting news also on a case of financial fraud published by a weekly paper. FNJ has recorded the arrest of six journalists in 2018, the Amnesty International's Nepal chapter stated in a press statement. “The state must show its unflinching support to the constitutional promises of the free press and bring improvements to this bleak picture of press freedom in Nepal.
It is only by ensuring the freedom of expression as enshrined in Nepal's constitution that Nepal will be able to strengthen a free, fair and truly democratic society,” said Thapaliya.
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