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| Username | Post |
| Biswo | Posted
on 31-Mar-02 11:25 PM
Name a famous poet, writer or journalist in Nepal: most likely he has been persecuted for publishing something that the state didn't like. Writing is not exactly what our rulers appreciate despite their lip service to press freedom. Kantipur today reported that 65 journalists were arrested after this emergency. 30 of those are still incarcerated. May be fanatics of Janadesh Yojana etc deserved to be curbed little bit, but the whole world knows that the incarceration includes of those who were against the rebels, who were simply priting the books of left writers etc. etc., and most importantly, they were not engaged in any crime. Publishing something was their only crime. ------ A picture in today's Kathmandu Post (reproduction see below, sorry for doing it without prior consent from related authorities) exposes a flaw in our hospitality industry. Of course, there are many. The most obvious one is not brushing in front of tourists who are waiting for breakfast, but thronging tourists as soon as they get off the bus/plane etc. The scene after the arrival of one tourist bus in Chitwan or Pokhara is so chaotic, so intimidating that unsuspecting first-timer tourists may very well feel that they are being mobbed. The brochure related to tourism says that we (Of course, Nepali) treat tourists as a 'special' guest. Well, what I always wanted as tourist in other coutries was to be treated as one of the locals unless I pay and ask specifically for special treatment. Don't mob the tourists, give security when needed, don't dupe them in taxi/plane/bus fair, and give them a good service in hotel. That's what a tourist primarily wants. A primer to HAN guys. 
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| villageVoice | Posted
on 01-Apr-02 03:04 PM
biswoji: On the state of press freedom in Nepal.... I don't really want the state to set the limit for press/free speech. For example, how left can a left-leaning writer lean. As far as s/she chooses to, I would say. And your idea of left may not be left enough to me. The moment you let CDO saheb, griha mantri, griha sachib, or even raj darbar for that matter, decide that core issue, it gets a bit dangerous. Maobadi/left patrakars should in all intent be allowed to publish their opinions, and let there be lawsuits if the state doesn't agree on the facts they present. but you can't just lock someone up because you assume s/he is motivated by the Maobadi/left ideology. To write is to express yourself nonviolently, attract the like-minded, articulate your and your reader's thoughts. What's wrong with that? I am not conding slanders, however, especailly against private individuals as against public individuals as say Prime Minister, King, Chief of Army. Democracies give enormous leeway to the press to write about public figures, and speculate on their motives, pass comment on their actions. The best way to respect the press and publication freedom as guaranteed by the 1990 constitution, let the press be. |
| Biswo | Posted
on 01-Apr-02 08:11 PM
VillageVoiceji: I think I understand what you are referring to. I also find answer of my rather vague statement in your reply. When I said "May be fanatics of Janadesh Yojana etc deserved to be curbed little bit.." I was remembering the accusation that they were glorifying attacks on police long before the violence was really of today's size. I guess you are right, rather than apprehending them in 'abduction style' the government should do it in right and legitimate way, by bringing lawsuit against the press. Thanks for giving me a chance to 'amend' my thoughts. |
| villageVoice | Posted
on 02-Apr-02 11:09 PM
Biswoji: Glad that you liked my views on press freedom. Honestly, I am still trying to find the delicate balance between a political party's - that includes CPN(Maoist) too -- right to news coverage, and the so called "press responsibility" to restrain itself. Kanitpur stirred hornet's nest last year when it published BRB's opinion article which claimed that there was a grand conspricacy behind the Royal Massacre. Many - some of them pretty decent and educated people - said the newspaper went overboard in printing the article during an extremely volatile period. But deep down I still believe the paper executives were unreasonably charged of treason. Editors, columnists (is BRB a columnist others may say?) often come up with unpopular opinions. And why not. Press is not meant to parrot the ring leaders, the Defenece Ministry, and one person's ideas are just that - thye are his/her ideas...not the ultimate truth.... |
| Biswo | Posted
on 03-Apr-02 06:28 PM
>Biswoji: > >Glad that you liked my views on press >freedom. > >Honestly, I am still trying to find the >delicate balance between a political party' >s - that includes CPN(Maoist) too -- right >to news coverage, and the so called "press >responsibility" to restrain itself. > I think Nepal's situation is special because we have allowed no place for extremist views to float and test their ideas. Traditionally, universities and other think tanks serve as discussion ground for such ideas. But we lack such fora. Universities were notorious for banishing the heretical views. So, now I think it is extremely important for whatever available publications/institutions to help such views to reach its constituency. We can't stifle views, we better let them transpire and be judged by the constituents. >Kanitpur stirred hornet's nest last year >when it published BRB's opinion article >which claimed that there was a grand >conspricacy behind the Royal Massacre. Many - > some of them pretty decent and educated >people - said the newspaper went overboard >in printing the article during an extremely >volatile period. I do intend to continue my discussion re that piece with Paschim in the thread "Letter to a Maobadi Bhai". Please read the thread and join us. Your presence will have a 'significant meaning' in that thread. > >But deep down I still believe the paper >executives were unreasonably charged of >treason. Editors, columnists (is BRB a >columnist others may say?) often come up >with unpopular opinions. And why not. Press >is not meant to parrot the ring leaders, the >Defenece Ministry, and one person's ideas >are just that - thye are his/her ideas...not >the ultimate truth.... I still believe? Come on. They were innocent. There was nothing such seditious as to warrant such charges against the trio. I read BRB's article, and being the person to laugh off conspiracy theory regarding royal palace massacre, I just laughed off. I mean, who takes him seriously if he is not without those multitude of .303 carriers even now? |
| Koko | Posted
on 04-Apr-02 09:20 AM
The state of freedom of press in Nepal always reminds me of those Indian movies I saw when I was a kid. I look at all the politicians as those villians. THEY HAVE THIS WHOLE MENTALITY OF GETTING WHAT THEY WANT, SANS COST. When I a kid, used to hear all sorts of stories aboutlocal Journalists dissappearing cause they were about to uncover some plot involving some Big shot. These so called politicians would not hesitate getting a helping hand from the so called Mob(Gunda's). But because it was all the Panchayat system back then. I had a very different outlook to the situation. We did not have freedom of press to state what we would actually want(thanks to the persecution of any antiroyal statements made by anyone). But I doubt anything has changed since. Currently, There seems to no LAW AND ORDER in Nepal. WHEN THERE IS NO AND ORDER IN A STATE...THE CIVIL LIBERTIES THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED CANNOT EXIST. So I see no point of discussing freedom of press when we cannot even fulfill the basic civil liberties in Nepal. Its like that old saying NAACHNA NA JAANE AAAGANI TAEEDO. |