Kathmandu, May 3:

Minister for Information and Communications, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, today said that the right to information bill will be tabled in the parliament very soon.

“The bill is going to be sent to the Parliament after the Council of Ministers holds discussion on it. The ministry has added some new provisions in the proposed draft,” he said, addressing a programme held by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) to mark the World Press Freedom Day. He said “some more press-related laws” were also being drafted.

“We are doing all for the sake of press freedom,” he said. “Journalists should continue their struggle for press freedom.”

UML leader Raghuji Panta said: “The government should be more media-friendly. The press can survive without politicians but parties cannot survive without the support of the media.”

Former FNJ president Harihar Birahi demanded that the government fully implement the Working Journalists’ Act to protect press freedom. He regretted that the Press is not free from atrocities even in a democratic system.

The FNJ honoured Bhairav Risal, Durga Baral and Ram Rijhan Yadav with the Solders of Press Freedom award.

While, Harsha Subba and DR Ghimire were honoured with Sridhar Acharya Press Award. The FNJ also launched its annual report on the status of press freedom on the same occasion.

The journalists’ body also organised a rally from Bhrikuti Mandap to mark the day.

Meanwhile, FNJ Gorkhapatra Chapter today decided to award Jayadev Bhattarai, sub-editor of the Gorkhapatra daily, with the Gorkhapatra Patrakarita Puraskar.

Free press bedrock of democracy: Ban

Kathmandu: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said a free, secure and independent press was the foundation of democracy and peace.

In a message on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, the UN chief said: “A free, secure and independent press is among the very foundations of democracy and peace.” Reaffirming the world’s commitment to the right to freedom of opinion and expression enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Ban said the governments, international organisations, media and civil society all have a role to play in upholding those foundations.” — HNS