Kathmandu, September 7

Mediapersons staged a protest in New Baneshwor today, demanding amendment to anti-media provisions stipulated in the Civil Code Act, Criminal Code Act and Right to Privacy Bill.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists led the street protest, saying provisions in these laws intended to silence and incriminate journalists who dared to exercise their constitutional rights, freedom of expression, right to information and free press. Journalists who participated in the protest displaying placards and banners said they were compelled to take to the streets after the government paid no heed to the pressure campaign launched through media.

The journalists put their pens, diaries, cameras and recorders on the ground to protest the ‘draconian laws’. Addressing the programme, FNJ president Govinda Acharya said, “Launching street protest is our compulsion, not wish.” He warned that FNJ would intensify its stir against the government if its demands were not met immediately. The FNJ has called a meeting of its central working committee for Sunday and Monday to announce protest programmes.

Press Chautari Nepal, Nepal Press Union, National Forum of Photojournalists and other organisations associated with press have joined FNJ to pressure the government and lawmakers to amend the laws. According to FNJ, some provisions related to offence against state, public peace, defamation and right to privacy in the penal code are meant to curtail freedom of expression.

Journalists also observed that the Right to Privacy Bill registered at the Parliament Secretariat recently intended to empower the government agencies to keep information of public concern and about persons holding public posts secret, hindered and harmed free journalistic practice and eclipsed the right to information under the mask of privacy.

Meanwhile, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal has said that the government is committed to amending anti-press provisions, if any, in the penal code.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Online Journalists Association in Kathmandu today, he said, “The new penal code and bill are not made to curtail individual, professional and constitutional rights of anyone and hence the government will never curtail press freedom. Preamble of the constitution has itself spoken about complete press freedom. We’ll discuss a memorandum submitted by FNJ for amending provisions in the penal code,” he said.