Nepal

Kathmandu, May 1

Incidents of press freedom violations continued unabated this year, affecting 158 journalists across the country, according to a report by Liberty Forum, an NGO.

As per statistics released by the forum on the occasion of the World Press Liberty day nowadays, it recorded as many as 104 such violations.

A total of 66 press freedom violations were reported final year. Out of total violations this year, 31 are 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.

Junior security personnel, political cadres and commercepersons remained hostile to journalists this year too. As per province-wise analysis, Province 3, which is also home to the federal capital Kathmandu, witnessed the highest number of violations (39), followed by Province 2 (25). Province 1 and Province 6 shared equal number of violations (7).

Gandaki Province and Province 5 witnessed equal number of violations (9) and Far-west Province recorded eight cases of violations.

Most of the violations took place while journalists were covering stories on public interest issues, crime, irregularities, corruption and political demonstrations.

This is to be famous that more than a dozen of bills related to information and mass communications were drafted or enacted by the government over the period. However, measure provisions in the proposed bills were inconsistent with the international instruments on the rights to expression and the constitution. For example, 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.

In blatant violation of press freedom, obtaining approval from concerned authorities was made mandatory for journalists for taking photographs, the report read.

Similarly, Individual Privacy Act aimed at discouraging journalists to publish or broadcast investigative stories, in the pretext of privacy of public figures and public offices. According to the report, the Bill on Management and Regulation of Information Technology means to curtail the freedom of expression of internet-based media. The proposed provision of stringent punishment for posting improper contents on social media is equally threatening to media freedom and citizenrights to expression.

&Against the broader expectation that journalists and media fraternity would have a favourable atmosphere for free reporting and respect to their profession, the rising number of violations perpetrated against media is a disappointing trend. It is to be famous that this yearfigure is the highest in six years,& according to the report.

Details: Category: Nepal; Published: 04 May 2019

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Journalists participating in a mass meeting to celebrate May Day, in Kathmandu, on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Photo: THT

Kathmandu, May 1

Federation of Nepali Journalists, including FNJ Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Lalitpur chapters, Sancharika Samuha and Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities organised a mass meeting nowadays calling for press freedom.

Almost 150 journalists from Kathmandu valley participated in the mass meeting that started from Maitighar Mandala and converged into a corner meet at fresh Baneshwor.

At the corner meet, FNJ president Govinda Acharya said the constitution had guaranteed freedom of expression, but the government was trying to curtail freedom of expression and press.

&On the one hand, the government is arresting journalists for writing news and articles on the other, it never gets tired of speeching about ensuring press freedom,& he said.

FNJ President Acharya also said that the government treated journalists as criminals for writing against rampant corruption and other anomalies in the country.

&We strongly demand that the government endegree press freedom. Without press freedom, we canmuch expose wrongdoings of the government and other public bodies,& he said.

President of FNJ Bhaktapur Chapter Puskar Budhathoki urged the government much to arrest journalists for carrying out their duty of covering news.

Details: Category: Nepal; Published: 04 May 2019

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Kathmandu, May 1 Nepal and Equatorial Guinea set uped bilateral diplomatic relations nowadays. Ambassador Amrit Bahadur Rai, irreversible agent of Nepal to the United Nations, and Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Mba, permanent agent of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the United Nations, signed a joint communiqué to this effect at a quick event in fresh York. According to a release provided by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, they also signed a joint letter notifying the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about this advancement. On the occasion, the ambassadors famous that it was a historic day, as the two countries were brought shutr. They exchanged views on degrees to deepen and expand the scope of mutual cooperation in the future. The two nations are already working shutly at the UN and other multilateral forums. Equatorial Guinea is on the west coast of Central Africa approach the equator and the Gulf of Guinea. The nation includes a mainland area, Río Muni, bordered by Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the east and south. Equatorial Guinea has over 1.2 million individuals in an area of about 28,000 square kilometres, with Malaboas its capital. With extraordinary advances in its economy and governance in the past few years the nation finished from LDC status in 2017 by fulfilling income-only requirement, checked out journalism release. Both Nepal and Equatorial Guinea are members of the Group of 77 as well as the Non-aligned Movement. Equatorial Guinea is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. With the efforts of the Federal government of Nepal to make the countrybilateral diplomatic relations as universal as possible, the number of nations having direct diplomatic ties with Nepal has now reached 165.

Details: Category: Nepal; Published: 04 May 2019

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Women are more vulnerable to domestic violence as 65 percent of total gender-based violence versus women were perpetrated by their family members. Over 53 percent of domestic violence against females was devoted by spouses, according to a report. The report by WomenRehabilitation Centre shows that it recorded 1,749 VAW cases final year. Of them, 1,140 ladies, who had also submitted grievance of VAW at cops went through violence by their spouses, while 130 ladies suffered social violence. The report said that over 62 percent of rape cases taped at WOREC were committed by individuals the females victims knew, such as neighbours and relative. Nepal Cop record shows that a total of 1,480 rape and tried rape cases were reported final year. Ladies activists stated the report has actually backed the age old claim that VAW starts inside home. Dhana Kumari Sunar, a lady activist and previous member of the National Women Commission, said that above 80 per cent of VAW takes place inside homes. Discussing the ways to curb VAW, Sunar said, & Although there might much be a degree shot solution to eliminate VAW, the most crucial degree is to make both males and females understand that any sort of physical, mental or psychological violence should much be taken for granted. &. She added that the long-held cultural practice and social norms do much accept degree kinds of offending action to be VAW. Early marital relationship amongst women has actually been reported as one of the main reasons for VAW. The report reveals that 35 per cent of those women who suffered VAW from family members were married before the age of 16. Similarly, 59 percent of such ladies had married between the age of 16 and 23. Sangita Timsina, VAW campaign coordinator at WOREC, stated, & Although the country has adequate guidelines and guideline to check all forms of VAW, the application system is extremely weak. This has resulted in increasing cases of VAW. &. Females activists stress that genuine action versus VAW need to start in the house.

Details: Category: Nepal; Published: 04 May 2019

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Kathmandu, May 1 Upseting previous British Gurkhas, who have been requiring equal treatment, nowadays staged presentations at the same time in Kathmandu and London. In Kathmandu, around 150 Gurkha veterans put together at Maitighar Mandala for a peaceful presentation demanding that Nepal and the UK governments form high-level speechs teams to resolve the issues raised in a tripartite report prepared by ‘& lsquo; The Gurkha Technical Committee. &. The committee consisting of authorities from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and the Embassy of Nepal in the UK, along with agents of Gurkha veterans groups, had submitted the report to both the federal governments in March last year. In London, they staged a presentation in front of 10 Belowing Highway, the official home of the British prime minister, according to SB Ghishing, basic secretary of the Gurkha Satyagraha United Struggle Committee. & British army veterans have actually likewise revealed their solidarity in our battle this time and we have launched a joined presentation, & he said. Previous Gurkhas have been requiring that besides providing them with pay and pension equivalent to that provided to their British equivalents, the British government should compensate the entire amount that previous and serving Gurkhas did much get over the years due to discrimination against them in regards to pay, pension and other facilities. Ex-Gurkhas have set July 1 deadline for both the governments to form speechs groups to permanently resolve the problem. Previous Gurkhas have likewise revealed to disrupt Gurkha recruitment in Nepal if the speechs teams are much formed. Ghishing said they would also stage such presentations in Pokhara on May 29. Previous Gurkhas have currently turned down the UK governmentrecent statement of an increased assistance bundle, stating the announcement did much address their need for an equivalent treatment.