Nepal records 104 cases of press freedom violations — Watchdog

Kathmandu, May 2 (PTI): Nepal recorded 104 cases of press freedom violations between May 2018 and April 2019, according to a data released by a watchdog dedicated to the cause of independent media in the Himalayan kingdom. Most of the violations took place when journalists were covering stories on public interest issues, crime, irregularities, corruption and political demonstrations, the Freedom Forum Nepal report stated. The statistics, released on the eve of the World Press Freedom day, said as many as 104 press freedom violations were reported between May 2018 and April 2019. Of the total cases, 66 were reported last year. Of the total violations that took place this year till April, 31 were cases of attacks and manhandling, followed by 28 cases of misbehaviour, 19 threats, 15 arrests, six vandalism and obstruction, one suspension and one arson, and three court cases, the report said. "Junior security personnel, political cadres and business persons remained hostile to journalists this year too," it said. As per province-wise analysis, Province 3, which is also home to the capital city of Kathmandu, witnessed the highest number of 39 violations, the data revealed. The study noted that over a dozen of bills related to information and mass communications were drafted or enacted by the government over the period. However, some provisions in the proposed bills were inconsistent with the international instruments on the rights to expression and the constitution. "For instance, the Criminal and Civil Code Act posed a threat to the freedom of expression in the name of national security, privacy, defamation, blasphemy, obscenity and hate speech," the report said. In straight violation of press freedom, obtaining approval from concerned authorities was made mandatory for journalists for taking photographs, it said. The report also underlined that Individual Privacy Act was aimed at discouraging journalists to publish or broadcast investigative stories under the pretext of privacy of public figures and public offices.