Press Center Nepal has submitted a 15-point memorandum to the government with various demands. The memorandum containing topics such as the killing of journalists, physical attacks on journalists, attacks on media houses, and incidents of professional insecurity of journalists are curtailing the right to freedom of the press, was submitted to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Prithvisubba Gurung, who is also the spokesperson of the government, and Secretary of the Ministry Radhika Aryal on Sunday.

According to General Secretary Manoj Ghartimar, there are demands in the memorandum that the killers of journalists should be prosecuted, laws related to communication should be press-friendly, journalists should have professional and physical security, journalists should not be removed from government media organizations on the basis of faith, a fund should be established in the name of martyrs and missing journalists, injured journalists should be treated free of charge, and journalists should receive 50 percent discount on treatment in government hospitals. According to him, the central committee of Press Center Nepal has submitted a memorandum to the federal government as per the announced program of submitting a memorandum to the federal, provincial and local governments simultaneously. The Center has also submitted the Kathmandu Manifesto issued by the Fifth National Congress held in March to the government.

While understanding the memorandum, Minister of Communications Gurung said that the government is fully committed to the constitutionally granted right of full press freedom. General Secretary Magar assured that he will try to meet the maximum demands raised by the press center.

Secretary Aryal said that there is no possibility that the government will back down from the complete press freedom guaranteed by the constitution. She said that the government belongs to everyone and that the government treats and treats all journalists equally. Under the leadership of Center President Kamal Giri, Press Center Nepal has submitted a memorandum to the Ministry. 

These are the 15 points demanded by the press center

1. We demand that the killers of journalists including the great martyr Krishna Sen 'Ichchuk', who were murdered by the then state for wielding a pen for change, be brought to justice and the status of journalists including Dipendra Sharma (Dandapani Neupane), Milan Nepali, Chitra Narayan Shrestha and Rajendra Dhakal, who disappeared from the state, be made public immediately.

2. Legal action should be taken against the kingpins of the alleged royalist group involved in the murder of Avenues Television journalist Suresh Rajak. Journalist Rajak should be declared a martyr and the family should be given proper relief. We strongly condemn the vandalism of vehicles of various media houses, physical attacks on media workers, vandalism of media materials by the alleged royalist groups and draw the attention of the government for the safety of media houses and media workers.  

3. Since the communication policy that should be made for the implementation of the constitution is not yet a priority of the government, a full press freedom-friendly law should be created immediately in accordance with the spirit of the constitution. Press Center Nepal expresses serious concern and concern that some of the laws that have been made and are in the process of being made are against the universal recognition of press freedom. We draw the government's attention to the regulation-oriented legislation rather than the basic recognition and control of freedom of press and expression, global press freedom. We urge the government to proceed with the work of making the necessary laws only through a comprehensive discussion of media-related stakeholders including Press Center Nepal.

4. We demand the full implementation of the Working Journalists Act, 2052 and the immediate implementation of the minimum wage recommended by the Minimum Wage Determination Committee. In order to put an end to the situation where laws are made and not implemented, we request that an office of the Press Registrar be established and a registrar be appointed as per the Act.

5. We demand the immediate establishment of the 'General Communication Training Institute' which is said to be established for enhancing the capacity of journalists. Regarding the implementation of the 'Journalists' Fund', we protest against the suspension of the Ministry of Communication by requesting the applications of senior journalists, and demand that senior journalists' allowance be provided immediately. Also, we would like to draw attention to immediately revise the standards issued for the Journalists' Scholarship Fund to ensure that senior journalists can easily benefit from the Scholarship Fund.

6. The public welfare advertisement provided by the Government of Nepal should be increased by 100% through the budget and a proportional advertisement distribution system should be implemented so that all types of media can receive it immediately according to the provisions of the Advertisement Act. We request to give priority to the local media in local advertisements and to implement a proportional distribution system so that government advertisements distributed from the center can also be received by the local media and also to provide public welfare advertisements online.

7. We demand to expand the journalist accident insurance and arrange for health insurance and life insurance. In addition, we demand immediate implementation of previous decisions including 50% discount provided to journalists by government hospitals and health institutions. Provision should be made for subsidy on media materials purchased by media workers and exemption from customs tax in the process of purchasing vehicles for media houses. Since all the government and private media have not yet been compulsorily affiliated to the Social Security Fund, let them take initiatives to make them affiliated.

8. The 'proportional advertisement distribution system for self-employment media promotion' contained in the federal government's policy and program should be implemented at the state and local levels as well and arrangements should be made to make local advertisements available to local media. Journalist professional development grants, communication equipment grants, awards/honors provided by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Press Council Nepal, etc. should be made transparent and inclusive, and arrangements should be made to distribute the information in a timely manner so that everyone can receive it. The role of Press Council Nepal should be independent, impartial and based on journalistic code of conduct.

9. In order to simplify the media registration process, arrangements should be made to register easily by canceling the cumbersome arrangement of re-registration/renewal with other bodies once registered. Ensure at least 33 percent participation of women in all sectors including communication at all three levels to give special encouragement to small investment media run by women, Dalits, tribals, minorities and marginalized groups.  

10. On this or that pretext, we demand to stop the attacks on the Constitution and the achievements of the Nepali people after long struggle including republic, federalism, secularism and proportional inclusiveness.

11. The journalism award given recently by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has been selected on the basis of the party division of the ruling party. Press Center Nepal strongly condemns the distribution of awards in party divisions by depriving independent, active and hard-working journalists from all over the country. This kind of attitude of the government has disappointed thousands of working journalists and weakened the dignity of journalism awards. In the future, when choosing the award, free from party bias and absorb the proportionality and inclusiveness ensured by the Constitution of Nepal, it draws attention to make the criteria for giving awards to active and hardworking journalists.

12. Press Center Nepal opposes efforts to remove responsible officials in government media organizations and government bodies, including the Gorkhapatra Institute, discouraging them by repeatedly asking for clarifications, and not creating a working environment in the workplace. Demands to stop such actions immediately.

13. In the upcoming budget, an effective budget should be arranged for the overall promotion of the communication sector by including programs such as capacity development of journalists, skill enhancement, and training for safety precautions to be adopted while doing risky journalism.

14. By making radio and online media participate in the classification process, policy and legal arrangements should be ensured to receive public welfare advertisements.