Press freedom cannot be curtailed in any pretext: FNJ Chair

Chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Bipul Pokhrel, has said the right to the free Press ensured by the Constitution and its exercise can’t be squeezed by anyone.

Speaking at the 10th AGM and the ninth convention of the FNJ, RSS Chapter as a chief guest here today, the FNJ Chair an unnecessary intervention in the exercise of press freedom is never entertained by media.

He made it clear that full censorship of media content is against the Constitution. He said complete freedom has been guaranteed in the preamble of the Constitution and it is not a welcoming gesture to feel the risk against press freedom from anywhere, he added.

Expressing his concerns over some recent developments aiming to curtail media freedom based on some disputed contents, he said the respective media is accountable for proving the credibility of the disseminated contents. He announced that no direction or order aiming to shrink the scope of the press and muzzle the media freedom from anywhere is welcomed.

Also speaking on the occasion, RSS Executive Chair Dharmendra Jha said Press freedom and professional independence are the vital aspects of media and the FNJ should strongly stand for the promotion of these aspects. The FNJ former central Chair Jha said, “In each episode of time, issues of working journalists are being raised. Over time, its forms have changed, the issues are never outdated for media-related organizations and the FNJ as well,” urging the Federation to carry this agenda effectively.

The issue of press freedom is becoming challenging and complex lately, the FNJ former chief said, adding that it is not guaranteed just by inscribing in the Constitution, it should be brought into practice, instead. He called for further developing the FNJ as a body of a collective nature and interests.

He took time to say that the RSS newsroom has lately become more and more inclusive which was one of the dreams he saw while joining the RSS some two years ago. He pledged to make the RSS contents more inclusive in the days to come, focusing on the capacity enhancement and career development of its staff.

“The newsroom independence is the top priority of the RSS existing management,” he added. RSS General Manager Siddharaj Rai urged the RSS journalists to elect a new leadership of the Chapter through a consensus, hoping to get constructive support from it in the days to come. He said the RSS management is actively working to ensure career development opportunities for the RSS staff.

FNJ General Secretary Roshan Puri urged journalists to be aware of the right use of IT in the profession, calling for enthusiastic and meaningful participation of the RSS Chapter in the FNJ 27th General Convention on May 3-4 in Kathmandu. As he said, the RSS FNJ Chapter has proved its presence on the FNJ forum.

FNJ Pratishthan Province Chair Bal Krishna Adhikari urged the entire FNJ mechanism to self-review the performance and delivery in the past three years, urging the central committee to give priority to the enhancement of province structure.

FNJ RSS Chapter Chair Pabitra Guragain said the improvement of the rights of working journalists is always the priority of the Chapter, thanking all those who contributed to making the inaugural session successful.

Press Chautari Nepal, RSS Chapter advisor Prakash Silwal, Press Centre RSS representative Ashok Ghimire and Nepal Press Union, RSS Chapter President Purna Prasad Mishra urged the FNJ to focus on the pressing issues such as press freedom, and professional rights of the journalist.