Anti-press freedom violation incidents up in 2024

Kathmandu: The year 2024 remained challenging for the freedom of the press freedom and the safety of journalists.

The data reveals that the year turned challenging for press freedom due to the incidents of threat, intimidation and killing of journalists for writing news and seeking information.

A total of 60 incidents of anti-press freedom violations have been recorded at the media monitoring section of the Federation of Nepali Journalists(FNJ) this year.

Compared to previous years, there has been an increase in the number of incidents of press freedom violations this year. In 2023, 58 incidents were recorded while 53 cases were reported in 2022.

This year, 34 women journalists and 113 male journalists were victimized in 60 incidents of press freedom violations, while 13 media houses were affected.

According to preliminary reports of the murder of Suresh Bhul, joint secretary of the National Dalit Journalists Association, Kailali, the incident appeared to be a targeted murder.

The FNJ had to send a fact-finding mission regarding Itahari-based journalist Gopal Dahal, who is facing death threats for writing the news.

The FNJ believes that the incidents of threats, arrests and misbehaving of journalists from people at the leadership level of the state and the people’s representatives for covering the news are not only highly condemnable but also an attack on democracy.

In 2024, the Nepali press world could not get a law related to the press. The long-awaited Media Council Bill has not been completed. Meanwhile, the government is preparing to bring information technology bills, social media management and operation bills.

The FNJ has been urging the government to streamline the laws related to communications and formulate laws in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

The FNJ is committed to press freedom freedom of expression and the physical and professional safety of journalists.

FNJ general secretary Ram Prasad Dahal said in a statement that the FNJ has strongly demanded the government to investigate the facts and bring the perpetrators to justice in the cases of violation of press and freedom of expression.

The FNJ has also urged the government to make the laws related to the press brought by the government media-friendly by adopting the universal norms of press freedom and constitutional provisions.