Freedom Forum is concerned over security officials' obstruction to journalists on March 18 in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the capital city situated in Province 3 of Nepal.
According to the information received at Freedom Forum, four journalists from print media (Nayapatrika daily, Nagarik daily and Rajdhani daily) were stopped at the entrance of Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers by the on-duty security officials reasoning they were not allowed to enter the office.
"We had gone there to meet spokesperson for reporting but even after showing our press cards; they did not allowed us to enter the office" informed Tapendra Karki, reporter at Nagarik Daily.
The incident is sheer violation of press freedom and right to information. Government appoints spokesperson as a source of information to the public and journalists as well but such incidents directly violate the constitutionally guaranteed right of journalists as well as citizens to access of information. Hence, FF urges the concerned authority to respect the rights of journalists and ensure free reporting atmosphere to them.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102022