Endangered Journalists

The curtailing of the freedom of speech by the February created government has had a direct impact on the media in Nepal. Media houses have been forced to sack there workers as information is published only through strict guidelines to the public Why have we lost faith in our journalists? Is it because they are fighting for their basic rights to be able to write freely? If the media in Nepal is to be under strict guidelines of the monarchy then what has the struggle by the martyrs for democracy been for?

I support those journalists that have been out on the streets in silent protest. At least they have the guts to stand up when faced with injustice. The journalists have been arrested, abused and given extensive threats; yet they will fight until they get their rights. Writing is not a matter of personal satisfaction for them. In fact, having known most of them, I believe it is because they want to give us – the public – information that is true (not something that coughs from the mouth of a royalist).

The media houses in Nepal have bought issues out into the mainstream public that were once taboo. They write and reach millions of people in the country with a viewpoint that is not politically aligned. I do agree there have been some shortcomings. But, give them credit. They have only been here for the past decade and yet the news they have given are valuable to us. Would we have known the amount of corruption Koirala or Wagle did without them? And yet even now, they have just exposed the fraud of Giri. All the years of corruption in the panchyat regime are totally unknown even after so many years. It is a known fact that the figures easily reach the arabs. Just think, if the rights of free expression by the press are taken away, we would have no idea what is happening now. Our viewpoints would only reflect what the king and his ministry of truth wants us to believe. For me, this brings such a chilling outlook of 1974 – a book by George Orwell.

Unfortunately, the public has seen the recent struggle by the journalists as being politically motivated. Instead of supporting them in their battle for freedom, you are questioning their very existence. Just go outside of Kathmandu people instead of sitting in the comfort of your houses and typing on your computers. The various community radio stations bring essential information to the people. The closure of them has affected them heavily. If we are to allow this to be taken away then why are we in the 21st century? How did you feel when the internet was stopped for a week? It is so sad to see how we are misunderstanding the journalists. They are the fourth estate of a nation and if we the public do not believe in them then all that will be left is royal propaganda.