A virtual discussion program was organized by the Center for Media Research- Nepal on 20th September, 2021. The event was participated by Sudurpachim Province assembly members, government officials, CSO activists & experts, advocates, and journalists in the province.
Presenting the paper, Civil Society Activist, Manmohan Swar said the civil society in the province continue to face the challenges where media and civil society organizations have become a target by the proivince and local governments in the region. “Local level government are taking steps to shrink the space of civil society, where some local governments have taken steps to control CSOs by introducing new laws.”
He points out that major problem with the civic society is the perception towards such organization has continued to remain negative, which the government believes it to be used by foreign funded sources. This attitude has continued to remain unabated over the years, analyzed Swar.
Swar was of the understanding that the law on FM radio introduced at the local level government is to establish FM stations by the local government.
Speaking at the occasion Himal Joshi province Chairperson of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) said that they are in discussion with the government officials and province assembly members- but still laws adopted are not in support of their needs. “We continued to raise voice against the curtailing of freedom of the press,” he added.
Journalist Arjun Shah was of the opinion that there instances where local government have operated FM radio stations in the province. The hidden interest behind such practices is to create an agenda for their own interest rather than for public interest, said Shah. It is necessary to raise the voice against such practices, he added.
Other participants at the program pointed out the need to take steps that affect the civil society at large.