Democracy is minimum precondition for free, fair journalism, President says

Kathmandu, May 3: President Ramchandra Paudel has said that democracy is the minimum precondition for free and fair journalism.

Issuing a message today on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the President said freedom of the press and freedom of expression is a foundation of democracy and recalled the contributions of the Nepali press sector in the country’s major movements taken place for democracy.

Press freedom is equally important for implementing citizens’ constitutional right to get information, President Paudel said adding that the free press helps ensure transparency in the governance system and hold it accountable.

“This is a vital aspect of the entire society’s democratization process,” the President’s message reads.

President Paudel has said the more the press is neutral, free and robust the more the democratic system will be strengthened, and it was all our responsibility to create an environment conducive to this. Due to this very role of the Nepali press, our constitution has ensured complete press freedom and freedom of expression, President Paudel viewed.

The President has described that free engagement in all steps from information collection to its dissemination is press freedom in a true sense adding that pluralism-based journalism ensures citizens’ access to every sort of news. 

In his message, the President has suggested that the media fraternity should work hard to establish the truth by disseminating facts through independent journalism and has cautioned that rumours could misguide the citizens and could create challenges in making the right perception.

Likewise, the President has pointed out that fake news that could be disseminated through social networking sites could misguide the citizens and weaken the system, and has wished that World Press Freedom Day would inspire Nepal’s media fraternity to disseminate true, factual and credible news.

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01-       Dr Giri gets ICT Excellence Award 2024

Kathmandu, May 3: The government has conferred the ICT Excellence Award 2024 on Dr Shailendra Giri by recognizing his contributions to the development and expansion of communications and information technology. The Award carries a purse of Rs 100,000. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ awarded Dr Giri with the ICT Excellence Award 2024 at a programme organized Thursday to mark the 7th National Information and Communications Technology Day.

The Executive Director of Rapti Engineering College, Dr Giri also served as the Executive Director of the Personnel Training Academy and Local Development Training Academy for six years under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.

A permanent resident of Kholadaha at Jhimruk Rural Municipality in Pyuthan district, Dr Giri holds a PhD in Computer Science.

Several journal articles at home and abroad have been published under his name in the areas of e-governance, cyber security, cyber policy and laws, artificial intelligence, online education, technology management, IT-related enterprises and others.

Dr Giri has published a research book “Dimensions of E-Learning” while another book “Practices of Digital Government in Nepal” is to be published soon.  

Likewise, Dr Giri is also a former central committee member of the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) Federation.   

The Award was presented to different individuals and organizations in seven different areas for their contributions to information and communications technology.  

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02-       World Press Freedom Day being marked

Kathmandu, May 3: The World Press Freedom Day is being observed today across the globe including in Nepal. 

May 3 each year is marked as World Press Freedom Day in commemoration of the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press in Windhoek in Namibia in 1991. The Day was first observed in 1993 following the recommendation of UNESCO. 

This year, the Day is observed with the theme of “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis”.

On this occasion, the 31st edition of World Press Freedom is being organized by UNESCO and the government of Chile in Santiago, the Capital City of Chile.

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04-       Minister Sharma says govt. committed to protecting press freedom

Kathmandu, May 3: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma has said that democracy will not be complete without freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of World Press Freedom today, Minister Sharma has recalled the contributions of all who sacrificed their lives in the struggles waged for freedom of the press and freedom of expression.   

Minister Sharma has stated that the government was committed to protecting and implementing complete press freedom, which is stated in the preamble of the Constitution of Nepal.

In her message, Minister Sharma shared that the government is working in the drafting and review of media-related laws since last year to ensure further press freedom.    

The government has given priority to drafting laws in a transparent and democratic process by taking feedback from stakeholders and citizens, according to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology. 

Likewise, she has shared that the Media Council Bill, which is focused on the promotion of self-regulation of mass media, was registered in the Federal Parliament recently.

Minister Sharma has also said that the government is closely watching the concerns of national and international organizations active in the field of press freedom.

In her message, Minister Sharma has expressed a firm determination for the professional and physical security of journalists and added that the government is committed to ensuring the rights of working journalists as per the legal process and facilitating to end labour issues seen in different media houses.

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05-       Democracy without press freedom cannot be imaged: NA Chairman Dahal

Kathmandu, May 3: National Assembly (NA) Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal has extended a message of best wishes to the media fraternity and all on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day stating that a matured and robust democracy cannot be imaged without press freedom.

In a message today, Chairman Dahal has expressed condolences to all the martyrs who got martyrdom while practicing journalism for freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

The NA Chairman has said the role performed by the press in establishing democracy by ending totalitarianism in the country is significant.

Chairman Dahal has stated that this day should be considered for making commitment to abiding by professional ethics.

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06-       Kanti Highway closed

Patan, May 3: The vehicular movement along the Kanti Highway was disrupted after a landslip in Kalche area of Lalitpur district.

Engineer of Kanti Highway Widening Project Rabindra Maharjan said that the road section is closed until further notice after the road collapsed while carrying out maintenance works.

It is said that the net and gabion wall constructed within a kilometer distance has collapsed along the Kalche to Baguwa area. 

Maharjan said that movement of the vehicle along the route is not likely due to damage on the gabion wall.

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