Press Freedom: Hypocrisy vs. Reality

Yuba Nath Lamsal
No government in the world, perhaps, wants to call itself an undemocratic regime. In rhetoric, all governments or states claim to be democratic and boast of upholding democratic values in principle. So is the case with press freedom and freedom of expression. In practice, however, the press is in the first line of fire from both politicians and the government. This is the conclusion reached by media analysts based on their experiences and research.
Hangover
Barring a few western democracies, the press comes as a hurdle on the path of ruthless rulers in consolidating their power through varied means. The misuse of authority, public funds and the state machinery in the interest of the party or people in power and in suppressing and marginalising their critics and dissidents has been the rule of the game in authoritarian countries. But the politicians in new and emerging democracies also, very often, suffer from the hangover of the old dictatorial era. Despite their relentless fight to establish democracy, freedom of expression and human rights, the politicians and parties tend to control the press once they come to power. This has been a worldwide phenomenon but more so in the Third World.
The press - more particularly the free and vibrant press - bites the governments and rulers when they are on the wrong path. When the press exposes the flawed policies and decisions, it makes the leaders and parties in power vulnerable before the people. They, therefore, tend to hide information and try to prevent the press from making such information public. This is where the clash of interest takes place, and the government or those in power become intolerant towards the press.
Even as we were observing International Freedom Day on May 4, reports of journalists being killed, intimidated, arrested and harassed were pouring in. The latest case was the arrest and imprisonment of American journalist Roxana Saberi in Iran. As early as January this year, American journalist of Iranian origin, Saberi, was picked up by the Iranian security forces on espionage charges. Later in closed-door and secret court proceedings, attended only by government approved persons, in Teheran, Saberi was convicted of spying for the US and sentenced to eight years in vigorous imprisonment. Saberi has denied the charge but said she was researching for a story. The way she was picked up and hurriedly and secretly convicted has raised serious questions about the intention of the government and fairness of the trial.
This is just one instance of how journalists are being harassed, tortured and intimidated for writing and reporting the truth. According to Reporters Without Border, a Paris-based media watchdog, 60 journalists were killed worldwide in 2008, 673 arrested, 929 physically attacked or threatened, 353 media outlets censored and 29 journalists kidnapped. The Internet, which is said to be a media without anybody’s control, also came under threat. According to the report, one blogger was killed, 59 bloggers were arrested, 45 physically attacked and 1,740 websites were blocked, shut down or suspended.
Like Saberi, who stood bravely for her job of exposing the truth, many journalists have fallen victim to prejudiced states and governments in the world that are committed to suppressing the truth. Hundreds of journalists were harassed, intimidated and jailed worldwide in 2008 mostly in the developing countries where democracy, open society and free press are still an alien idea.
However, nothing has deterred journalists and media activists from digging out the truth and exposing it to the masses. Nothing can be more inspiring than this for those who aspire to know the truth and to enjoy freedom and democracy in the world. At a time when democracy, liberty and freedom of expression have been a global lingua franca, any attempt to suppress and control information does not work. Truth must come out, and it will come out. If those who think that the truth can be hidden and suppressed by intimidating the press, they are absolutely and miserably wrong.
Once a prized profession, journalism these days has turned into a dangerous and risky job. The case of the war zone is different. But even in peace time, journalists are not safe, and their job is not prized.
Back in Nepal, the situation is even more horrifying. It was the journalists who suffered the wrath of the authoritarian regimes in the past more than others. The situation during the conflict and emergency period was worse. Even after the democratic change, the onslaught on the media houses and journalists has not completely come to an end.
Last year alone, some media houses and their bosses were attacked, humiliated and forced to suspend their publications for some days. The attacks were carried out by the people backed by a certain political party.
Individual journalists were also attacked and threatened in different parts of the country for reporting certain stories. As a result of the threat, some journalists had to switch their profession and flee. The threat and attack were purely guided by the motive of maiming or silencing the journalists and media. During the emergency and conflict, both the state and non-state sectors were responsible for attacking and intimidating the journalists and media houses.
But lately the attack has come purely from the non-state sector but under the patronage of those in power. Journalist Uma Singh was killed last year. The list of journalists who were attacked, intimidated and harassed in 2008 is long enough. More than 214 cases of violence against the media were reported in the country in 2008.
According to the constitution and laws, Nepal has total press freedom. But journalists and media houses have often faced several hurdles in freely practising the rights provided in the country’s constitution and other legislation. The threat, intimidation and physical attacks are clearly aimed at silencing and censoring the press. However, the culprits have gone scot free.
Rule of lawNepal is a democratic country. Democracy is the rule of law. When someone breaks the rule, he/she must be punished. But it has not been so, and the law breakers have received patronage from the politicians. This has promoted a culture of impunity and violence. If democracy is to survive and flourish, the press should be free from fear. The state, if it claims to be a democratic one, must act strongly to ensure the rule of law where the press can freely enjoy its right to inform the people. The first step towards guaranteeing a free press is to end the culture of impunity in Nepal.

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