Pokhara, July 1 :

An interaction programme titled “Role of media persons in corruption control” was organised today by the Mechi-Mahakali Media Society (MMMS) with support from the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and ARD Rule of Law Project. The first convention of MMMS was also inaugurated today.

Speakers at the programme stressed that joint initiatives from every sector were necessary for corruption control.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner of CIAA Bed Prasad Siwakoti said cases of corruptions are coming into light since the past few years due to the initiative of journalists, CIAA and civil society. He added, however, that because of some weekly newspapers that publish sensitive news with negative intention, CIAA is facing difficulties in doing its work.

Vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Shiva Gaunle said everey individual should contribute to corruption control.

He added that FNJ has initiated a campaign of corruption control within itself by taking action against those journalists accepting money from the erstwhile royal government.

“The state should help the media by increasing investment in the sector rather than expecting the media to play a role in corruption control,” he said.

Investigating Officer of CIAA, Ratna Kaji Bajracharya, said fair journalism was needed for corruption control. He added that all sectors, including the government and the civil society should be morally responsible.

Central chairman of MMMS, Madhav Sharma, urged all political parties to be transparent in their expenses and income. District president of NC-D,Soviet Bahadur Adhikari, said the media played a major role in corruption control. Speakers including Rabindra Adhikari of CPN-UML, Santa Bahadur Ghising of Jana Morcha Nepal, Kaski chairman of MMMS Narayan Bhattarai and others hailed the role played by the media in corruption control.