Media persons from private sector were barred from entering into the Office of the President for reporting of oath taking ceremony of new Ministers in Kathmandu on July 26. Kathmandu lies in Province 3.
However, responding to Freedom Forum's query, Secretary at President's Office, Bhupendra Prasad Poudyal replied, "We don't have any strict provision against entry of private media during the programs; the small size of hall is the main reason for restricting entry of many persons.
However, five media persons from State-owned media -Nepal TV (2), National News Agency (1), Gorkhapatra (1) and Radio Nepal (1) had access to the program. Security persons barred journalists' entry reasoning order from high level.
"We have not issued any such order to bar journalists", reiterated Secretary Poudyal.
Freedom Forum draws the attention of the concerned authority towards lack of coordination among security and government officials' to ensure easy access to media. Hence, FF urges them to create restriction free atmosphere for media persons to report and ensure citizen's right to information on government activities be it major or minor.
For More Information,
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
Email: monitoring@freedomforum.org.np; info@freedomforum.org.np
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np