International Media Mission-Nepal Election Monitoring Mission
2008-04-14
The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal congratulates Nepali journalists for their coverage of the campaign and the historic election held on April 10. Their scrutiny of the process and coverage was one critical factor contributing to a mostly peaceful election day. The Mission also congratulates its partner, the Federation of Nepali Journalists, for providing the leadership in creating a climate conducive for media work throughout the process.
The following is the joint statement of the FNJ and the International Media Mission to Nepal:
While congratulating the role of Nepali journalists for their coverage of the electoral process, we are deeply concerned about the frequent violations of media freedom and freedom of expression that occurred in the run-up and during the process, particularly in the campaign period.
We emphasize the need for continued vigilance on issues of media freedom in the ongoing vote count, the formation of the new government and during the constitution-writing process in the newly-elected Constituent Assembly. The FNJ and IMM recommend that these issues be recognised by all stakeholders and observers committed to facilitating a successful democratic transition in Nepal.
From January 01 2008, the FNJ monitored media safety violations and attempts to restrict the free flow of information through its local chapters in 70 of 75 districts. Starting April 8th, three joint FNJ-IMM teams were in the field for monitoring, to provide assistance and for rapid response in three of Nepal's five development regions. On election day, the FNJ deployed four regional monitoring teams and had a rapid reaction team on standby in Kathmandu for dealing with serious violations.
The campaign period was marked by 61 instances of violations of media rights, including access to information and attacks on journalists.. The FNJ identified
20 cases of physical attacks
12 cases of threats and intimidation
21 cases of violations of freedom of information
8 cases of attacks on media houses or media vehicles
Particular incidents that restricted the free flow of information in the campaign and election period, highlighted by the FNJ and IMM-N, include the following:
Bandhs or localised general strikes particularly in the southern Madhesh areas which limited physical movement, and threatened journalists and citizen safety;
Localised difficulties in obtaining press and vehicle passes restricted access for several journalists, limiting their capacity to report;
One localised incident involving seizure of journalist documentation; and,
One localised incident in which security and administration officials refused to divulge crucial information on the killings that took place in Dang on April 09, when that information was urgently required in the public interest.
It is regrettable that some political parties and their supporters tried to restrict the flow of information and threatened the well-being of journalists during the campaign. Such behaviour could threaten Nepal's transition to democracy and peace in the post-election period. However, we commend the political parties for their moderation on election day.
Although Nepal's media has made a strong positive contribution to the election process, we also emphasise the fact that many long-term structural issues continue to limit the potential of the media's role. These include a lack of broad-based skills development in many areas; intimidation and threats creating insecure environments and encouraging self-censorship in some locations; and a lack of regulatory reform guaranteeing freedom of expression and public service media, including the reform of the state media. The FNJ and the IMM-N urge all national and international civil society and government stakeholders to pay close attention to these requirements. This includes the urgent need for the upcoming new government and the Constituent Assembly to prioritise freedom and freedom of expression issues in their respective deliberations.
The FNJ and IMM-N mandate focuses on media freedom and media safety issues during the election process. However it is self-evident that the quality of media election coverage during this process also requires detailed informed debate and review. We call on the Election Commission and the Press Council to release the results of their comprehensive election media monitoring project because of both overwhelming public interest and to inform media development initiatives in particular.
The FNJ and IMM congratulate the people of Nepal on their successful and courageous participation in the April 10th vote. We also call on all political parties to ensure that the next steps in the political process are open, democratic and transparent.
The FNJ and IMM will issue a full report on the media monitoring project after the election process comes to an end.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists is an association of some eight thousand journalists in Nepal. The International Media Freedom Monitoring Mission is a collaboration of international media advocacy and media development organisations, and is coordinated and facilitated by International Media Support.
The following organizations are members of the 'International Media Mission -Nepal' for the election:
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
International Media Support (IMS)
International News Safety Institute (INSI)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Internews
Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF)
IMS contact:
Harold Ryan
Mission coordinator
International Media Support
Norregade 20, 2nd Fl.
Dk -1135 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Office: +45 8832 7010
Mobile: +45 2645 6563
hpr@i-m-s.dk
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Stop Violations of Press Freedom
2008-04-09
International Media Freedom Monitoring Mission
Press Release
April 9th, 2008 Kathmandu - The International Media Freedom Monitoring Mission reports that violations of media freedom and media safety continue in some districts across the country in the lead up to the elections. In some districts, journalists are being denied transportation permits; been threatened, beaten as well as denied access to information from local government authorities.
In coordination with monitoring units of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the International Mission remains concerned about journalist safety and press freedom during elections as well as in the coming months.
Journalists working in Kaski district in western Nepal have run into bureaucratic red tape trying to get adequate vehicle passes for covering news of Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. As reported to the International Federation of Journalists, one of the media organizations monitoring press freedom in Nepal, a senior district officer in Kaski refused to provide the required vehicle passes to local journalists.
In Rautahat district in central Terai, journalists face similar problems, as district officials held back vehicle passes. Prem Chandra Jha, president of the local FNJ chapter, says journalists working in his district may not be able to cover the election at all. In frustration, journalists gathered in front of the local Election Commission Office demanding passes.
FNJ condemned the incident saying that it is the right of professional journalists to cover and report events without interference. It also said that government and local authorities have to build the appropriate environment for media to cover the complicated constituent assembly proceedings and negotiations in the coming months.
Press freedom violations have continued unabated during the last week. On April 3rd, K. Thapa, a regional union representative in Gorkha district, northwest of Kathmandu, was detained while monitoring press freedom in Borlang village. On April 5th in the nearby Deurali village, a Nepal Press Union district president, was attacked by Young Communist League members during a clash with activists from the Nepali Congress party.
On April 7th, Sindhu Prabaha, a regional weekly newspaper in Sindupalchowk, 100 km east of the capital was looted during printing of the election week issue.
Journalists are also being denied access to information on important news from government offices. Media based in the mid-western region could not access accurate information about the 6 Maoists killed on April 8th in Lamahi Bazaar on the main East-West Highway in Dang district 25 km from the Indian border.
Binod Dhungel, the Nepalese Reporters without Borders representative, who is taking part in the nationwide monitoring programme, reported yesterday that district police, local authorities and district administration offices hid the news of the Lamahi Bazaar clash between Maoist cadres and the Nepali Congress activists and the subsequent shooting of the Maoist youth. The security officials would not respond to inquiries from journalists about the incident, said Dhungel. After news of the clash was finally aired on local FM radio, Hemraj Sharma, district correspondent of Ujjwalo National Network, received phone threats.
The International Media Freedom Monitoring Mission strongly urges all Nepali political parties, regional security and election authorities to respect the free speech and rights of access to information. The Mission also encourages the Nepalese media to remember to maintain high professional standards and to report fairly, balanced and accurately on the election process in the coming months.
The Mission represents international media organizations including Reporters without Borders, the International Press Institute, the International Federation of Journalists, International Media Support, Internews and International Safety Institute.
END
For more information please contact:
Harold Ryan
Mission Coordinator for Kathmandu
International Media Support
hpr@i-m-s.dk
+980 357 925
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FNJ Monitoring nationalwide...
2008-04-08
PRESS RELEASE
Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in coordination with representatives from six international journalist organizations have launched a nationwide monitoring programme for protection of journalists rights to access of information, media freedom and media safety during the CA elections.
FNJ regional monitors are covering conflict prone districts while 70 district teams are monitoring in their own areas. Similarly, twenty monitors trained by International Mission expert will work in various districts. FNJ local election monitors will negotiate in conflicts regarding media rights, safety, transportation difficulties, access to information and information dissemination as quickly as possible.
Operating from the Terai, the Far-west and Kathmandu areas, five foreign representatives from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International media Support (IMS), Internews Network, International News Safety Institute, along with Nepali representatives of Reporters without Borders (RSF) and International Press Institute (IPI) will monitor the election process.
Similarly, national teams that include FNJ central committee officials are monitoring critical districts. President Bishnu Nisthuri accompanied by vice presidents Shiva Gaunle and Sanjaya Santoshi Rai, branch presidents Dineshwor Gupta and Shambhu Jha head the team for eastern region.
General Secretary Mahendra Bista is leading the central region team of Treasurer Hemanta Kafle, members Ramesh Bista, Bishnu Chhimeki and Ramjee Dahal. The western team is supervised by vice-presidents Gangadhar Parajuli, KP Basyal and DR Pant as co-ordinators and branch presidents Hari Joshi, Kashiram Dangi and Narayan Shah as members.
The FNJ established an emergency line accessible to all its over 8000 member to facilitate rapid reactions to the cases of intimidation, attacks and abductions of its members at the FNJ central office: telephones lines are: 01-4490063 and 01-4493873. Â The FNJ has also opened a hotline for documentation of violations: telephone 01-4475323.
FNJ underlines that reporting on the election process is a historically important event and requires accurate and balanced coverage, it urges all FNJ branches and FNJ members to immediately report attempts to curtain press freedom during the election period.
FNJ and the joint international mission strongly appeal to the Election Commission, Nepal Government and national security of both national and local levels, all political parties and their sister organizations to ensure that journalists have full access to information and are not subjected to harassment and intimidation.
Further, the mission asks that human rights activists, all national and international observation missions to join the FNJ in condemning any attempts to hinder the press during reporting of the election process.
Mahendra Bista
General Secretary
