195 7 - 13 May 2004 20 Pages Rs 25 Almost There and Back
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#195 7 - 13 May 2004 20 pages Rs 25 Almost there and back RAJENDRA DAHAL We were so close to a political resolution Wednesday he immediate political future, pressure, the parties organised rallies it seems, depends on whom in the capital, even as the T King Gyanendra chooses to government hosted the Nepal meet. After a series of confabs earlier Development Forum (NDF). with Panchayat era names and some The governments concessions others, the king almost met Girija came on Monday, incongruously Prasad Koirala on Wednesday. There the very day that Koirala and was electric anticipation in the Madhab Kumar Nepal were arrested capital. But then he didnt. from their homes to prevent them When the king invited the from leading rallies. The prohibitory leaders of political parties for order was lifted and all detainees consultations after six months of not were released, other than five student talking, there were great leaders. Nepal and Koirala were now expectations. A resolution to the in a mindset to make the Narayanhiti nations political crisis, set in motion visit, although there was some by the royal move of 4 October disagreement between the two on 2002, seemed within grasp. With the level of flexibility to exhibit. the king and the parties in one Nepal was for the resignation of corner, the Maoist would also come Prime Minister Surya Bahadur RAM HUMAGAI to the tablethat was the hope. Thapa as a precondition. SOFTER SIDE: A girl dances at a cultural anti-‘regression’ rally organised by the Nepali Congress Inexplicably, the string of royal With a senior cardiac specialist (Democratic) on Wednesday. audiences began with the politically and a retired banker acting as insignificant Badri Prasad Mandal, emissaries between the parties and a former pancha and latter-day the palace, Koirala was asked to kings minister, and several minor prepare for the royal rendezvous on players. Slighted, the leaders of the Wednesday. He cooled his heels till five agitating parties turned down 2PM, and when no summons came, the kings invitation when the call he left for Biratnagar. He demanded finally came from the office of the release of the five student leaders principal private secretary Pashupati from there. Maharjan. The conspiratorialists among the Even though the continuous politicians believe that the month-long agitation against governments conciliatory gestures regression has been likened by one and the kings meetings were merely wag to a leaking pressure cooker that to ensure that the NDF did not get leaves the daal undone, the parties derailed. Now that the meet has were energised by the support of ended successfully and the non-political professional groups. powerful development czars are Even the Rastriya Prajatantra Party gone, there is less pressure on both (RPP), formerly termed royalist, the darbars, Narayanhiti and Singha. entered the fray. The international The parties now ask: could it be that community (donors and diplomats) the governments softened stance added democracy to their own list had little to do with them and of demands, in addition to human everything to do with the NDF? rights. While the authorities may feel Suspecting the royal palace of smug for having tempered the wanting to appoint a prime minister intensity of the movement, this may of its choice rather than theirs yet force the political parties to resort to again, the five parties made a even sharper slogans on the street. conditional offer to the king: first As we go to press, the possibilities release all the detained party workers of talks between the king and the and lift the prohibitory order on politicians has not been exhausted. demonstrations. To keep up the A country waits. l Weekly Internet Poll # 135 Q. Is it ethical for journalists to join the anti- king agitation on the streets? Total votes:1,438 Weekly Internet Poll # 136. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Q. Which one of the following political alignments would be most acceptable to you? 2 EDITORIAL 7 - 13 MAY 2004 #195 Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd, Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Desk Editors: Trishna Gurung, Jemima Sherpa Design: Kiran Maharjan Web: Bhushan Shilpakar Advertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected] Subscription: Anil Karki, [email protected] Sanchaya Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, Lalitpur Unfettered fourth estate GPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-5543333-6, Fax: 01-5521013 [email protected], www.nepalitimes.com Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hatiban: 01-5547018 Free press is not a luxury that can wait until better times EVERY DAY IS PRESS FREEDOM DAY free, independent and greattheir ability to access death, impoverishment and A pluralistic media plays a provisions, and sometimes their destruction in their wake. here is a great deal of frothing at the mouth these days in the crucial role in the personal safety and very survival, Independent and pluralistic media T media about the government’s efforts to muzzle the press. True, democratic process. Respecting the may depend on it. However, they can make a significant there have been crackdowns and detention of protesting journalists medias independence and tend to regard much of the contribution to breaking this in the streets by riot police. But it hasn’t been done with any more recognising the fundamental right information available to them vicious circle by enabling dialogue brutality than that reserved for political leaders rising up against of press freedom, enshrined in through the media as propaganda. to replace armed conflict. ‘repression’. The media just gave itself more column inches because those beaten Article 19 of the Universal For these reasons, independent Even when it is heated, up were journalists. Much more worrisome has been the direct Panchayat- and pluralistic media are dialogue is crucial for laying the style targeting of some journalists and indirect threats against others. The GUEST COLUMN particularly important in times of ground for reconciliation and parliament has expired, an elected prime minister has been sacked, local Koïchiro Matsuura war and they remain at least as reconstruction. The media can elected bodies disbanded, democratic institutions and oversight bodies crucial in the post-conflict phase. provide a vital space in which are in limbo. Paradoxically, however, the Nepali press has never been freer than it is today. Declaration of Human Rights, are Sadly, each year a number of different views are aired and In fact, scanning the editorials and comments in the Nepali language essential for transparency and the journalists lose their lives in the information from different sources media, we find there are few taboos left to be broken. But on the week that rule of law. These principles are course of pursuing their is openly available for public we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, it would also be important to point equally important in rich and poor profession. It is the duty of scrutiny. Furthermore, the out that the current freedom could be a mirage. Draconian security and countries alike, in times of peace authorities everywhere to respect correlation between press freedom lese majeste laws are still in place and hang like swords above our heads. They could be activated at any time as excuses to selectively muzzle and in times of war. the medias right to work in and economic development has critical media. In situations of conflict, conditions of reasonable safety. been demonstrated. This relation The current strategy to allow media full freedom could also be a sly upheaval, disorder and All too often, wars are self- must be born in mind as the effort to camouflage the erosion of democracy in the past two years, allow uncertainty, peoples need for perpetuating: conflicts generate international community seeks to society to let off steam and assure the international community that everything is hunky dory. The challenge for media today is to keep press reliable information is especially more conflict and inevitably bring achieve the ambitious agenda of freedom safe from demagogues disguised as democrats. And here we include the political parties who use quasi- Maoist tactics by punishing the people and crushing their freedoms with the threats of bandas. Today’s rulers are more sophisticated and subtle in exercising control. As we have seen in some countries in our vicinity, constitutionally guaranteed laws on free press do not suffice in ensuring an independent media anymore. Watchdogs can easily be turned into lapdogs by plutocrats putting the squeeze on advertising. The media can deal with dictators: it has experience fighting repression. But how does it deal with market controls, over-commercialisation that undermines independence? We have to be much more vigilant about political controls on media coming via the marketplace. Our constitution that was crafted after the fall of Panchayat authoritarianism provides us little protection against this onslaught, especially because the constitution itself is in intensive care. We need more creative ways to respond to threats to journalism from advertising lollipops or outright efforts to buy off reporters and editors. Press freedom needs to be protected by its maximum and fearless application. And it is clearer than ever before that the freedom of the press and political freedom are linked— one can’t exist for long without the other. Dithering democrats in our country gave democracy a bad name, but autocrats who believe in trampling freedoms are a bigger threat to press freedom. NEPALNEWS.COM L ETTERS CAKE an