KATHMANDU: Seventy-five incidents of violation of press freedom took place in the last one year.
As per the statistics of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Communication Monitoring Unit, more than 300 complaints were filed citing lack of professional security of journalists.
The highest incidents of press freedom violation had taken place in Bagmati province that stands at 54, said FNJ President Bipul Pokharel. Similarly, Province 1 and Madhes Province each recorded six incidents of violation of press freedom. Karnali province recorded five incidents of violation of press freedom and two in Lumbini and Gandaki each. However, no case of violation of press freedom was found occurred in Sudurpaschim Province.
Pokharel added that 272 media persons, nine media houses and 33 women were victimized from 75 incidents of violation of press freedom.
“In the previous year, a total of 45 incidents of press freedom violation had occurred where 584 journalists and three media houses were victimized. Of them, 77 were women journalists,” showed the record of the FNJ.
Three journalists were arrested while 29 journalists faced attack, misbehave and threat last year. Thirty-one journalists have been suffering from professional insecurity. Attempts were made for thrice to curtail the press freedom by making laws.
As per the FNJ’s statistics, there is still no condition to be satisfied on the issue of professional and physical security.
The FNJ has been demanded the correction on the provision of broadcasting regulations, which was recently amended.
Press freedom should be mandatory to bring into the practice the constitutional rights of citizens to be informed, shared FNJ President.
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