The Press Council has urged the Tourism Ministry to take action against the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal for trying to curtail the freedom of press and expression and editorial freedom.
Saying that the CAAN’s move to seek clarification directly to the operator of the Annapurna Post daily over the news published in the newspaper is a violation of the prevailing laws and regulations, the Council has written to the concerned ministry.
Stressing that authority to write and publish news and editorials rests with editors, not investors, the Council said that the Authority’s decision to seek clarification by linking the publisher with another business is against the existing law and practice.
Earlier on August 18, the Authority had sent a letter asking clarification with Simrik Air Chairman Captain Rameshwar Thapa, who is also the Chairman of the AMN, over news published in Annapurna Post daily under the Annapurna Media Network.
The clarification letter states that AMN has repeatedly disseminated news, analyses, and comments that gravely undermine flight safety. The letter further points out that despite Capt Thapa’s role as the head of an airline company responsible for upholding flight safety, he seems to have misused his publishing rights through his media outlet, engaging in misleading and rumor-spreading activities.
ALSO READ: CAAN’s anti-press freedom move draws criticisms
Later, the Annapurna Media Network filed an application at the Press Council saying that the individuals and organizations dissatisfied with media reports can move the press council.
Concluding that the Authority’s move has infringed the freedom of press and expression, a meeting of the Code of Conduct Monitoring Sub-Committee of the Council held on Tuesday drew the attention of the Ministry.
Saying that the clarification sought with the Annapurna Media Network was not in accordance with the law, the meeting has decided to inform the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Council Deputy Spokesperson and Information Officer Ram Sharan Bohara said.
“The content published or broadcast in the media falls under editorial responsibility,” the letter sent to the Ministry by the Council states. There is a provision to move the Press Council if the individuals or the organizations are dissatisfied with the media reports.
The Council said that its serious attention has been drawn over the Authority’s move to seek direct clarification from the publisher.
Earlier on July 31, the Authority had made a decision not to operate flights after 12 noon in the 29 airports of remote areas. Owing to the Authority’s such decision, patients with serious health conditions could not go outside the district for treatment.
Because of which, four children lost their lives in Humla.
Following the incident, the Annapurna Post daily covered news about the problems the Karnali Province people have been facing after the Authority prohibited the flights after 12 noon in hilly districts.
The Karnali Province government, lawmakers, civil society and entrepreneurs piled pressure on the Authority to correct its decision.
ALSO READ: CAAN move condemnable
On August 17, the Authority quashed its earlier decision regarding air flights.
But on August 18, the Authority sought clarification with the publisher over the news published in the newspaper.
