In response to continued violations of press freedom and freedom of expression in Nepal, twelve international organisations, including ARTICLE 19, conducted a joint mission to Nepal from 20 to 25 March 2006. Journalists, human rights activists and lawyers, including Asma Jahangir, right, and media organisations around the world have expressed their support for the project, and voiced solidarity with media workers and campaigners in the region. (31-MAR-06)
 
Report by Natasha Schmidt from an ARTICLE 19 press release. Photo of Asma Jahangir: Radio Free Asia. 

 Prominent human rights lawyer and activist Asma Jahangir was among those who commended the mission, also endorsed by Former Indian Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, editor Najam Sethi, and Indian Express columnist Kuldip Nayar. Asma Jahangir acknowledged the resilience of the Nepalese press following King Gyanendra’s seizure of direct power on 1 February 2005, expressing a conviction that such pressures only make journalists stronger. “I fully endorse the International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal and demand immediate lifting of all curbs on fundamental human rights and press freedom”, she said.

Najam Sethi endorsed the mission in his Daily Times editorial on 6 March, supporting both the aims of the mission and its schedule of press hearings and activities, and expressing his concern at the increase in attacks against members of the press.

The mission met with a broad cross-section of the national media to discuss the press freedom and freedom of expression situation. They also met with key institutions and decision-makers, including members of the security forces, with the intention of stressing the importance of press freedom and the free flow of information.

The mission visited three districts in Nepal — Pokhara, Surkhet and Birtamod — and met with local civil and army authorities and representatives from the local media in these areas. The mission representatives also participated in a national conference on press freedom in Nepal held in Kathmandu on 24 March, followed by a press conference to mark the the end of the visit on 25 March.

The international organisations participating on the mission were:
• ARTICLE 19
• Free Voice
• International Federation of Journalists
• International Freedom of Expression Exchange – IFEX
• International Media Support
• International News Safety Institute
• International Press Institute
• Reporters sans Frontières
• South Asia Press Commission
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation – UNESCO
• World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters – AMARC
• World Press Freedom Committee

The visit is a follow-up to the mission conducted in July 2005, and Shailesh Kataria, Director of ARTICLE 19’s Asia and Europe programme, represented ARTICLE 19.

Supporters of the mission called for the restoration of democracy as enshrined in the Nepalese Constitution of 1990, demanding for the immediate lift of all curbs and restrictions on the media.

The Paris-based media rights group Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) reported in January that Nepal tops the list of its censorship log for 2005. The report highlights that in 2005 “more than half” of all censorship cases recorded around the globe took place in Nepal. –Since the state of emergency declared on 1 February 2006, the media is receiving a battering, the report said.


For more information about press freedom in Nepal visit:

Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Studies

Nepal Press Freedom