No More Attacks

Sugam Gautam

Following the arrest of former prime minister and UML chair KP Sharma Oli, UML cadres have been conducting protests across various parts of the nation, demanding his release. At the moment, the public has formed two different opinions on this matter. A large section of society believes that the arrest of Ramesh Lekhak and KP Sharma Oli is valid and that it duly aligns with the investigation report commanded by Gauri Bahadur Karki. The other section, including the UML rank and file, has expressed disagreement over the arrest. However, the Nepali Congress and Gagan Thapa have decided that they will follow the legal course and not engage in any sort of protest programmes.

It was just a day after ministers were sworn in and assumed office that the former prime minister and the former home minister were arrested, as recommended by the investigation report. However, the report is yet to be made public. The situation has opened room for questions. Had the government prioritised widely disseminating the report first, there would have been fewer concerns about its credibility.

The CPN UML is a cadre-based party, and its loyalists appearing on the streets to criticize the arrest of the party chair is only natural. During the protest programmes, there were also instances where journalists on duty were affected. The attack on journalists, who were simply performing their duties, has once again raised a serious question: why are journalists attacked time and again for capturing the news?

In a broader scope, this attack is viewed as an attack on democratic norms. It was an attack on the institution responsible for bringing accountability into the system. Some years ago, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair vented against the mainstream media for covering news about his alleged involvement in cooperative scams. The statements against media houses and some renowned journalists made the public rethink their faith in mainstream media. Such was his fan following that mainstream media lost credibility among some sections, allowing YouTubers and independent journalists to flourish in the evolving political landscape.

To understand the declining audience of mainstream media, it is important to recall the incident where Rabi Lamichhane renamed mainstream media as “12 Bhai.” Following this, there was a surge in YouTube channels where individuals covered political issues and scandals related to traditional parties and their leaders. These content creators resonated with the younger generation because they presented themselves in a simple way, avoiding political jargon. Today, many young people in Nepal rely on YouTube videos of popular influencers and form their opinions accordingly.

The investigation report prepared by Gauri Bahadur Karki has recommended legal charges against several independent journalists for spreading false information during the Gen Z movement. However, mainstream media circulated the news while maintaining integrity and fairness. This example highlights the significance of mainstream media in moments of crisis. For budding journalists trying to establish themselves through YouTube and other platforms, this will serve as a valuable lesson. In the end, all that matters is authentic and reliable information.

Nepali mainstream media have withstood crises at different times with caution and resilience. They will continue their endeavours, but the state and political parties should cooperate by providing a conducive environment. Any attempt to undermine journalism should be viewed as an anti-democratic action.