Parliament committed towards press-friendly laws

Kathmandu, May 3: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Devraj Ghimire, asserted that Nepal’s parliament was committed to formulating press-friendly laws, ensuring the professional security of journalists and discouraging the activities against freedom of expression.

Issuing a press statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day here today, Speaker Ghimire extended his best wishes that may the Day inspire one and all to face practical challenges by safeguarding constitutional rights.

“With the political movement coming to an end, the Nepali press should work towards encouraging and promoting good governance, development and prosperity-oriented activities,” the Speaker said in the message, adding, “The government also should not backtrack from the responsibility of making press further stronger and able.”

He stated that the Constitution of Nepal had guaranteed freedom of the press, the right to information and press and publication rights.

The Speaker argued that in a democracy the role of the press is not only limited to disseminating information, but it is also expected to promote democracy and good governance. Hence, he viewed freedom of expression and access to information as necessary for the sake of healthy democracy.
“It is the responsibility of media to protect people from ignorance and disinformation and disseminate factual information,” the statement read.

It further read, “The main role of the media sector is to play watchdog to government and people’s representatives and aware them o their responsibilities about the matters of public concerns. The press also plays a role in mediating between the government and all aspects of the civil societies.”

Speaker Ghimire acknowledged Nepal’s press to be an important companion of the democratic movement and crusade for freedom of the press and thus, he observed, that democracy and the media sector were complimentary and supportive of each other.
He opined that the development and promotion of the communication sector were possible only in a democracy.