The Center for Media Research- Nepal (CMR-Nepal) organized a discussion program entitled “Situating Media (Civic) Space in Gandaki Province” on August 31, 2021.
The participants in the program highlighted the need to amend the restrictive provisions in the media bill that was registered in the province assembly. The media stakeholders pledged their concerns that the bill was came up without much consultation from the stakeholders.
Speaking at the virtual event, Minister for Law, Communication, and Provincial Assembly Affairs Bindu Kumar Thapa pledged to amend the restrictive provisions through discussion in the parliament. “I am committed to make the bill according to the sentiments of the media and journalists, the provisions can be amended as per the needs in the parliament,” said Thapa.
Presenting the discussion paper, journalist Santosh Pokharel highlighted the restrictive provisions with respect to the media related bill in the province. He questioned the authority engaged in the formulation of law, and their intention to draft laws that controls the news media.
Speaking at the discussion, Press Council representative Durga Bhandari stressed on the need to rewrite the bill and make it media friendly. She pointed out that some provisions in the laws are inconsistent with the constitutional provisions.
Chairperson of Federation of Nepali Journalists Gandaki Province Narayan Sharma said media rights should be viewed through the lens of civil rights, where restriction in the bill is a means to control the civil rights. He stressed that the journalist association will not accept such prohibitory provisions in the law.
Speaking on the occasion, Civil Society Coordinator Bishnu Hari Adhikari said that it is the freedom to exercise one’s rights without violating the rights of others but the practice of Gandaki province is to control the rights of citizens and journalists. He added that it should be stopped from passing. This is to prevent the freedom of the citizens, it is necessary to prevent it from being passed by the provincial assembly.
The program was participated by media experts, civil society activists, NGO activist that stressed on the need to amend the restrictive provisions in the law drafting process.
