KATHMANDU, Aug 4: Unsatisfied with the Election Commission (EC)´s decision not to allow Press Council Nepal (PCN) to undertake media monitoring project on implementation of the election code of conduct, the latter has refused to take part in the Training of Trainers (ToT) to be conducted by the commission.
EC will conduct ToT on election code of conduct on Monday keeping in view the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election scheduled for November 19. The commission had asked PCN to send the name of representative for ToT. [break]
Sending a letter to the EC on Friday, PCN has said it cannot send its representative for ToT, stating that it disagrees in principle with the commission´s decision. However, EC Spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai said he has no information about the letter by Friday.
“We disagree with the EC´s decision as it has bypassed a statutory body,” Chairman of PCN Borna Bahadur Karki told Republica. He also termed the EC´s decision not to allow it to undertake media monitoring on election code of conduct “unexpected”.
“PCN undertakes media monitoring on whether or not the journalist code of conduct is violated on a regular basis. So, it should be allowed to conduct media monitoring on election code of conduct as well,” Karki added.
He claimed that the commission does not have any mechanism to conduct media monitoring. “There could be a financial motive of the election commissioners behind such a decision,” Karki claimed.
An EC source privy to the development told Republica that the commission cannot allow PCN to undertake media monitoring on election code of conduct as the latter is a statutory body is authorized only to take action against media organizations violating the code of conduct.
“There can be conflict of interest if the same body carries out media monitoring and takes action against those involved in violation of the election code of conduct,” said the source on condition of anonymity, adding, “If both of the tasks (media monitoring and action) are performed by PCN, EC will have no role in the process.”
The EC official said that the commission will allow professional experts to carry out media monitoring.
Related story
EC to writes to Press Council to conduct regular monitoring of...
