Terrorism, anarchy inimical to democracy, press freedom: Minister Gurung

Patan, May 10: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, said terrorism, anarchy and autocracy are threats to democracy and press freedom. 

Inaugurating the Lomanthang International Media Summit organized by the Nepal Press Union Lalitpur today, Minister Gurung said we should improve our working style to further strengthen democracy and press freedom. Acknowledging the importance of the summit that will deliberate on issues such as democracy, press freedom and climate crisis among others, the Minister highlighted the importance of a strong public opinion and free press in the democracy that, he added, was witnessing mounting challenges lately.

"When democracy weakens, press freedom wanes," the Minister argued, underlining the need to strengthen democracy and press freedom. Stressing the interrelationship between democracy and press freedom, Minister Gurung viewed that we should contemplate benefiting society from exercise of press freedom. 

He, however, showed concern over the rise of misinformation and disinformation particularly in online portals. Gurung called for the unified efforts to combat it. He also urged unity among media to fight against those undermining democracy with the spread of misleading information about religious tolerance and cultural diversity through social media. 

He pressed for enforcement of rule of law and impartial journalism to foster democracy. 

The Minister observed that this summit bears much significance because Lomanthang is bearing the brunt of climate change. 

On the occasion, Vice Chairperson of the International Federation of Journalists, Sabina Indrajeet, viewed democracy can not function in absence of press freedom. IFJ has representation from over 150 countries, she said, adding that it works for freedom of press. 

Acting Chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Deepak Acharya, said climate crisis is a global problem so issues of press freedom and climate change could be taken together.

Former Chairman of the FNJ, Harihar Birahi, argued only democratic system guarantees civic supremacy where free media, civil society and vibrant political parties are possible. 

South Asian Regional Trade Union Council's General Secretary Laxman Basnet approached the role NPU played in taking forward the issues of press freedom and climate change. 

Senior Vice Chairman of NPU, Prem KC, and General Secretary Dilip Paudel and media experts from India, Bangladesh and Bhutan spoke on pressing issues relating to press freedom and climate change.

With the conclusion of the inaugural session in Kathmandu, 120 journalists have left for Lomanthang via Pokhara today itself. (RSS)