Prachanda flays press as serving capitalists

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Dec. 4: CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda Tuesday criticised the working of the press, which he claimed had been blowing issues linked with his party out of proportion and creating unnecessary 'fear psychosis' among the general masses.

He said that the media was not working responsibly as a democratic institution but was rather inclined to serve the interest of capitalist elements to make commercial gains.

?Every journalist and the media houses should be guided by their social and moral responsibilities to uplift media as a liberal institution," he added.

Addressing a two-day national convention on media freedom he said that press undoubtedly did an impressive job to reform the political outlook during the people's movement but its commercial bias has narrowed its social and moral responsibilities these days.

He underscored the urgency to forge national unity to steer the peace process to success. The trend of exaggerating issues should be stopped by the press instead it should be more focussed to create congenial atmosphere to find an outlet to the existing political crisis, he added.

He said that the CA polls would be impossible until all stakeholders fully abided by the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

?If we fail to ensure peace then the country might as well head towards disintegration as is evident from the agitation in the Terai regions," he added.

General Secretary of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that press was one of the pillars for democratic consolidation and freedom of the press must always be guaranteed to debunk the adverse social and political realties currently prevailing in the country.

He said that the government should ensure the security of media professionals instead of confining its role to the enactment of different laws related with the press.

Nepali Congress general secretary Ram Chandra Paudel, said that the revolutionary changes in the media sector was getting an outstanding response but the security of the journalists was being questioned both from within the home country and abroad.

He said that the weak democratic environment had been imparting a negative message to the people. The press should hence focus on consolidating democracy, he added.

?The lawmakers and all political players should show seriousness in fostering congenial atmosphere to address the contemporary issues facing the nation."

Mahendra Bista, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ) said that Act related to press freedom was not being properly implemented and the government was not serious towards it, which has posed insecurity in every journalist to maintain full-fledged freedom.