Attacks through digital medium pose new threat to press freedom

The umbrella organisation of Nepali journalists claimed that 2022 was very challenging in terms of freedom of the press and expression in Nepal.

"The new threat to press freedom has been added, as new means have been adopted to curb freedom of the press and expression, with the advancement of new technology," a press note issued by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) reads.

People or groups disagreeing with the news and views have started systemetically attacking media organisations and individual journalists through new technology, it further reads, adding that it has posed more challenges to the journalists' safety.

“Unlike previous years, media and journalists were attacked through digital means this year," the press note signed by general secretary of the FNJ Roshan Puri adds. "Acts including gaining unauthorised access to the content management system (CMS) of online media, organising unfollow campaigns, threatening journalists through social media platforms, attempting to shut down or hack social media accounts increased this year."

Stating that new media-related laws promulgated by the federal, state and local governments have also posed challenges to the press freedom that is guaranteed by the constitution, the FNJ said, "Rather than promoting freedom of the press and expression, these laws are bent on curbing the Constitutional rights."

According to the FNJ, a total of 132 male and 18 female journalists and six media organisations were affected by such incidents but the number of press freedom violation incidents has come down compared to the past year. In 2021, some 62 incidents of violation of press freedom were recorded while 190 journalists and four media organisations were affected.

The FNJ has recorded 53 incidents of press freedom violation this year. Threat to the free press will eventually lead to rise in bad governance fuelled by corruption, and the country will have to suffer as the cost of doing business will increase hampering new investments.

Cable operators not to air Indian news channels in Nepal

The cable service providers decided to stop airing Indian news channels in Nepal with immediate effect from today.
“Viewers will not have access to any Indian news channels, except for the Indian state owned Doordarshan news,” according to the Multi-System Operators (MSO). The vice chairman of Mega Max TV Dhruba Sharma confirmed that the domestic cable operators today took the decision not to air Indian news channels with immediate effect.
Earlier today, the spokesperson of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Narayan Kaji Shrestha had slammed the Indian media for their ‘nonsense’ reports on matters related to Nepal and the Nepali government. He also said that the Indian media must stop the baseless propaganda against Nepal government and Prime Minister Oli.
Expressing his disbelief on the extent to which some media channels have gone to defame the current government, he said that the baseless propaganda by the Indian media against the Nepal government and Prime Minister Oli has crossed all limits. “Nepal is always united as far as issues related to the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity are concerned.”
Likewise, Information Technology and Communication Minister, and spokesperson of the government Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada also – dueing today’s press briefing – condemned a section of the Indian media which ‘engaged in the character assassination of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Chinese ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi, recently.’
Khatiwada said that the government may seek political and legal remedies through diplomatic channels against baseless Indian media coverage which has undermined Nepal's sovereignty and dignity. “We urge the entire media including from our neighboring countries not to undermine Nepal's sovereignty and dignity," he added.
A section of Indian media has been broadcasting an imaginative and defamatory reports on the Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli along with the Chinese envoy.
Indian news channels have been broadcasting misleading news contents – without following even a minimum level of ethics of journalism – related to Nepal in recent days amid the tense relations between the two neighbours after Nepal issued its new political map including the disputed regions of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura.
Back home, people from various walks of life including political parties, media fraternity, civil society and intellectual community have vented their ire on social media – particularly against a recent imaginary and defamatory 16-minute show with an offensive headline run by Zee News linking PM Oli with Chinese ambassador to Nepal Yanqi – for their baseless propaganda against Nepal government and PM Oli.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Press Council Nepal and other media organisations have also vented ire against the Indian media reports.
Likewise, Former Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa also slammed such deliberate and sustained campaign of mudslinging against PM Oli reports by a section of Indian media. “We have serious differences with PM Oli on many issues, including his conduct of international relations but the reports by a section of Indian media cannot be acceptable,” he said.
Earlier this week, The Times of India published a disrespectful picture of PM Oli in its editorial. Indo Asian News Service (IANS), India Today, WION, Times Now, Republic TV and Zee Hindustan are other Indian media outlets which ran baseless reports linking PM Oli with the Chinese ambassador to Nepal.

Government must uphold press freedom, ensure the Constitutional guarantee of Freedom of Expression

Amnesty International Nepal (Amnesty Nepal) urged the Government of Nepal to ensure press freedom both in law and practice allowing journalists an independent and autonomous working environment to practice their profession.
“The government must uphold press freedom and rectify legal provisions that are contrary to the constitutional guarantees of the freedom of expression,” said director of Amnesty Nepal Nirajan Thapaliya. “Amnesty International reaffirms its support to press freedom,” he said, adding, “For us, journalists are the frontline rights defenders, who bring to light the abuses and violations suffered by people. Journalism is not a crime, and journalists should not become subjects of violence in the exercise of their profession. It is a fundamental responsibility of the state to ensure security of journalists and freedom of the press.”
The 26th World Press Freedom Day this year presents a stark reminder of Nepal’s steady decline from 100th to the 106th position in the World Press Freedom Index as recorded by Reporters Without Borders. According to the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), some 36 journalists have been killed since 1996, while dozens of reporters and editors have been arrested, detained and fined in the last decade since the Electronic Transaction Act came into effect in 2006. FNJ has reported some 60 incidents of violation of press freedom in the last one year.
The past couple of years has witnessed the tightening of laws and regulations in various countries, including Nepal, aimed towards restricting the free operation of media and silencing of the dissenting voices critical of the establishment. In April, a Pokhara-based journalist Arjun Giri was charged under the Electronic Transaction Act (ETA) for reporting a financial fraud case. In 2018, there were a number of arrests of journalists under cyber-crime charges. In September 2018, Raju Basnet was arrested merely for posting a news also on a case of financial fraud published by a weekly paper. FNJ has recorded the arrest of six journalists in 2018.
The state must show its unflinching support to the constitutional promises of the free press and bring improvements to this bleak picture of press freedom in Nepal. It is only by ensuring the freedom of expression as enshrined in Nepal's constitution that Nepal will be able to strengthen a free, fair and truly democratic society,” Thapaliya added.
Background
The Constitution of Nepal 2015 has made a broad commitment to the ‘full freedom of the press’ including civil liberties, fundamental rights and human rights. Article 17 (2) (a) of the Constitution guarantees citizens' right to the freedom of opinion and expression. Likewise, Article 19 has outlawed the censorship of any "publication and broadcasting or dissemination or printing of any news item, editorial, feature article or other reading, audio and audio-visual material through any means".
Nepal is also obligated under various international human rights treaties including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights  to "respect and ensure" everyone's freedom of expression. The UN Human Rights Committee, a body mandated to monitor the implementation of the Covenant, states in its General Comment No. 34 that "a free, uncensored, and unhindered press is essential in any society to ensure freedom of opinion and expression . . . and it constitutes one of the cornerstones of a democratic society.