Press Center Nepal has demanded to amend the Media Council Bill and rewrite the Social Media Bill.

The office meeting of the Central Committee of the Center held on Saturday decided to demand amendment and rewriting of both bills as they are against press freedom.  

'An important provision of the Media Council Bill in the subject committee of the House of Representatives is against the universal recognition of freedom of the press, the complete freedom of the press guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal, and requests a meeting with the committee to move forward only by amending it,' said the statement released by the Secretary General Manoj Ghartimagar, 'The social media bill in the National Assembly is against the freedom of the press and demands that it be withdrawn and rewritten. In addition, he urges the creation of an umbrella act related to communication to manage the registration, renewal, regulation and other activities of all types of media.

Similarly, state no. It is said that the meeting of the center drew serious attention to the fact that the subject committee presented the report of the mass media bill in the provincial assembly, including provisions against complete press freedom, constitution and federalism. Requesting the provincial assembly to send the report back to the subject committee, the meeting has been requested to make a provincial mass media law in accordance with the universal recognition of press freedom, full press freedom provided by the constitution, national mass media policy, the constitution and the principles of federalism.

The center strongly opposes the online media registration and renewal done by the government through the law amendment as an anti-press freedom act to be done at the district administration office. The government has been requested to register and renew online from the Department of Information and Broadcasting through post and online as per the online guidelines. The Center has also requested to arrange for the renewal of radio license and equipment license through post. 

meeting Press Center Nepal, General Secretary Ghartimagar informed that it has been decided to hold the second meeting of the Central Committee on October 24 and 25, 2082 in Chitwan district of Bagmati province. 

Full details of the decision

Press Center Nepal

Press Note

Our glorious organization Press Center Nepal, Central Committee office meeting was held on 7th August 2082. Chairman of the organization Chairmanship of Kamal Giri and vice president and spokesperson of CPN (Maoist Center). This press note has been issued to publicize the important decisions and proposals taken at the meeting held under the chief hospitality of Agni Prasad Sapkota.

1.  It has been decided to hold the second meeting of Press Center Nepal, Central Committee on 24th and 25th October 2082 in Chitwan district of Bagmati province.

2.   It has been decided to form various departments and committees of the organization and create codes of conduct and procedures for orderly organization and effective performance. The responsibility for drafting the procedure has been solidified.

3.   As the important provision of the Media Council Bill in the subject committee of the House of Representatives is against the universal recognition of press freedom, the complete press freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal, it requests a meeting with the committee to move forward only by amending it. As the Social Media Bill in the National Assembly is anti-press freedom, it demands that it be withdrawn and rewritten. In addition, it urges the creation of an umbrella law related to communication to manage the registration, renewal, regulation, etc. of all types of media.

4.   Province no. The meeting drew serious attention to the fact that the subject committee presented the report of the Mass Media Bill in the Provincial Assembly, including provisions against full press freedom, constitution and federalism. Requesting the provincial assembly to send the said report back to the subject committee, the meeting urges the meeting to make a provincial mass media law in accordance with the universal recognition of press freedom, full press freedom granted by the constitution, national mass media policy, the constitution and the principles of federalism after discussing with the stakeholders again. The meeting condemns the police repression of the peaceful protest of journalists.

5.   The government strongly opposes the anti-press freedom actions to be done in the district administration office through the amendment of the law and requests a meeting with the government to register and renew the online media from the Information and Broadcasting Department through post and online as per the online guidelines. Requests to arrange for the renewal of radio license and equipment license through post office.

6. Expressing regret that the official media should belong to the people and the state, the government and the ruling party belong to the government and the ruling party. Requests all journalists and employees working in government media houses to join the social security fund.

7. The meeting strongly opposes the activities of various media houses such as not providing salaries to journalists on time, threatening them with resignation, and firing them for no reason. The meeting requests to implement the Working Journalists Act and the recommendations of the Minimum Wage Determination Committee, to provide regular salaries to journalists, not to pressure journalists to resign, not to expel them, and to pay attention to the professional and physical safety of journalists.

8. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Madhes Province strongly opposes the obstruction in the use of the leased land in Janakpur and the attack on the journalists including Shailendra Mahato, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Madhes Province. General Secretary Mahato wishes for the recovery of the injured journalists and demands action against the culprits.

9. Anti-press freedom, backward communication laws, amendment of the bill, protection of full press freedom, cooperation of press related organizations is indispensable for the professional and physical safety of journalists. The meeting requests cooperation from all parties.

10. Chairman of CPN (Maoist Center) for providing important time before the meeting and instructing the office members Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and the chief guest of the meeting was Vice President and Spokesperson of CPN (Maoist Centre). The meeting expresses its gratitude to Agni Prasad Sapkota. Co-in-charge and former coordinator of Press Center Nepal. Govinda Acharya, Outgoing President A. Bishnu Prasad Sapkota, CPN (Maoist Center) Propaganda Department Secretary. Thanks to Balram Thapa for his hospitality. Thank you