Brief Report of the Seminar Rehabilitation of Displaced Journalists of Conflict Areas

Organised by International Press Institute (IPI)

27 April 2004, Lalitpur

Nepalese journalists are under cross fire since last few years due to conflict between state and Maoist rebels. About half a dozen journalists have already lost their lives during the conflict. About 26 journalists have been displaced from their own place because of continuous threats by the rebels and discomfort caused by the security forces. Therefore, IPI-Nepal organized a national seminar focusing on the displaced journalists as an effort to support them. About 60 journalists participated in the seminar. Twelve of them who were from outside of the Kathmandu valley were displaced or victimized. The seminar was held at the Hotel Himalaya, Lalitpur on 27th April, 2004.

Objective of the seminar

The main objective of the seminar was to draw attention towards conflict affected journalists and to take initiative to provide possible support for them.

The seminar was conducted in two sessions -- opening and working.

Opening Session

At the beginning of the program, welcoming the participants and guests, Mr. Durga Nath Sharma, Advisor IPI-Nepal said that the journalists working out of the Kathmandu valley are being more victimized by the conflict. He informed that the seminar was organized to think seriously about the critical condition of conflict affected journalists.

Chief guest Mr.Gokul Pokharel, President, Nepal Press Institute, inaugurated the seminar by lighting the lamp.

Mr. Dev Raj Dahal, representative of Nepal for Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung expressed his view that, eviction of journalists means that people of those areas is made meek, voiceless and invisible. And lack of voice and visibility deprives Nepalese citizens of their constitutional right to know and right to participate in decision making .

He suggested that the victim journalists' needs and right should become central to the rehabilitation program so that they will be able to continue with their duty of independent and informed reporting, liberating the people from ignorance and contributing to public good. Mr. Dahal also stressed the need of democratic peace for Nepal rather than muscular or hegemonic peace.

Media Expert, Mr. P.Kharel praised the initiative taken by IPI-Nepal to utilize the prize money of various journalism awards as a financial source to support conflict affected journalists.

According to him the idea was an example of a noble effort in South-Asian media sector and a new concept among more than one hundred member countries of IPI.

Mr. Taranath Dahal, President Federation of Nepalese Journalists, thanked IPI-Nepal for taking serious initiation for the cause of conflict affected journalists. He said federation is quite effortful in providing relief to the journalists and protection of press freedom is a responsibility of all, not only the federation.

President Dahal also informed that some state owned media organizations have sacked some displaced journalists showing the cause that they left their working stations.

Chief Guest Mr. Pokharel said our society is expecting more from us but we are suffering in triangular conflict, therefore we should be more united by leaving aside the thinking that nothing can be done without external grant.

"Millions of rupees is being donated in the name of 'Saptaha', but we are crying for small things, should we also organize 'Saptaha' ?", he asked.

He suggested to provide support to conflict affected journalists in the areas of employment, placement, skill development and other means of remedy.

Chairperson of the inaugural session IPI-Nepal President Mr. Pushkar Lal Shrestha said journalists are most vulnerable in every conflicts, so we should try our best to rescue our friends by ourselves, not expecting any mercy from others.

He said works are being done to provide help to the conflict hit journalists by collecting this year's prize money.

He informed Bhusan Journalism Award, Media Point Journalism Award, Media Point Investigative Reporting Fellowship, HEJAN Health Journalism Award, Sancharika Samuha Journalism Award have already decided to contribute their prize money of this year and Nepal Press Institute and other media institutions are in the process.

Working Session

After tea break working session of the seminar began under the chairmanship of FNJ President Mr. Dahal. Initiating the session, he shed light on the importance of the seminar paper written by one of the conflict victim journalist Mr. Shyam Shrestha. He also urged to utilize the money for welfare of the affected journalists, instead of expending for dinner at star hotel.

Mr. Shyam Shrestha, Editor 'Mulyankan' monthly presented the seminar paper entitled "The Press Freedom in Conflict Affected Nepal".

In his wide range paper he explained how the journalists are working under the threats caused by state security forces and Maoist rebels. He gave facts and figures regarding conflict affected journalists based on the research and study carried out by FNJ and CEHURDES.

According to Mr. Shrestha, Nepalese press was never completely free from suppression but the suppression mounted from B.S.2058 Mangsir 11 when state of emergency was declared immediately after attack in army barrack at Dang by the Maoist rebels.

"The state is double or triple ahead than Maoist in torturing the media people, where as Maoist rebels are more responsible than the state for the displacement of the journalists and pouring trouble and fear to their helpless families.", he explained.

In his paper he has suggested some recommendations regarding what should be done by the journalists themselves, FNJ, the state, Maoist rebels and agitating political parties for the cause of press freedom and security of the press people.

Expressing view on the seminar paper Mr. Mahendra Bista, FNJ Secretary said that journalists are being vulnerable day by day due to intolerance of the state, rebels and others. He gave the example of journalist Navraj Pahadi who was tortured for reporting a corruption case.

Mr. Bista mentioned that democracy is not only the issue of politics but also the concern of press freedom, therefore we should fight united for the cause of democratic rights.

During the floor discussion all the participants (victimized journalists) from various districts shared their stories of torture unleashed on them and their families by the state as well as Maoists.

Mr. Ram Krishna Gautam (RSS, Surkhet) told a story about how he received death threats from Maoists for covering a heinous crime committed by the rebels who butchered a cow and fed their cadres. He was displaced from his own village to Kathmandu for several months due to Maoist's threat.

Mr. Kamal Mishra (Jana Andolan weekly, Jhapa) urged not to publish their plight to gain any type of benefits.

Mr. Hari Khadka (Radio Nepal, Arghakhachi) said, “security forces captured my tape recorder and mentally tortured me. Maoists also issued death threats against me. Now I am forced to live in Kathmandu. My old mother is living alone at home.”

Mr. Chitra Bahadur Singh "Gaunle" (Rajdhani daily, Dailekh) said, “Maoists have ordered them to dispatch news only after being censored by them, which is not possible since to meet Maoists one needed at least two days walk.”

Mr. Jivan Joshi (Susheli weekly, Surkhet) said he was being unable to go home since last one year due to his reporting on donation forcefully collected by Maoists.

Mr. Bhawani Baral (Bijayapur weekly,Dharan) suggested for concrete policy and program for the long term security and welfare of the Journalists, rather than distributing some amount of money.

Mr. Bishnu Devkota (Gorkhapatra daily, Dolpa) told the story on how was he attacked by a gang of 35 armed Maoists and left to die, but fortunately was rescued by army helicopter.

Mr. Sama Thapa (Yugyan weekly, Kailali) told how he was captured and tortured by police for four months without any legal procedure.

Mr. Bishnu Prasad Bhushal (Bhusandesh weekly) said, "security forces tortured me for having long beards. They said my beard makes me look like Maoist. And, Maoists also threatened my family. It is very unbearable if family are under threat."

Miss Rekha Kusum Regmi (RSS, Dang) said maoist rebels suddenly appeared at her home and demanded for donation and cut down the telephone line.

Mr. Chitra Bahadur Chaudhary (Nao Paricharcha weekly, Kailali) explained the torture he had faced from the police and his tension cause by the charge of being terrorist.

Paper presenter Mr. Shrestha, FNJ Secretary Mr. Bista and Mr. Pradeep Pokharel from CEHURDES stressed on collective efforts for the protection of journalists, especially working outside Kathmandu valley.

IPI-Nepal President Mr. Shrestha declared that his publication would provide job opportunity to three of the most victimized journalists. Responding to FNJ President's proposal, Mr. Shrestha informed that IPI-Nepal will donate the amount of dinner worth Rs.12,600/- to the fund for victimized journalists, and he requested to accept the dinner as it has already been ordered.

From the chair FNJ President Mr. Dahal repeated the commitment of FNJ to support victimized journalists with the substantial help of institutions like IPI-Nepal. He also thanked all the participants for their active, free and frank participation.

At the end of the seminar Mr. Padma Singh Karki, IPI-Nepal Vice-President in his vote of thanks said the seminar can be a notable step for the cause of conflict affected journalists.

The seminar was started at 2:00 p.m. and concluded at 5:30 p.m.

Mr. Arjun Bista, Treasurer IPI-Nepal as the coordinator of the seminar.

The seminar was widely covered by the leading daily newspapers as well as electronic media.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Nepalese society is under serious threats because of violent conflict between the state and Maoists rebels. Almost all sectors of the nation are being vulnerable. In such situation, it is obvious that media will be under the crossfire. As a consequence, Nepalese media is severly victimised. In this context, IPI-Nepal feels the need for some concrete effort to support the conflict affected journalists.This seminar is an initial part of the effort.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to FES for its support to organize the seminar in a short period. We are highly greatful to the participants who came to participate in the seminar from a long way despite of many difficulties. Apart from that, we would like to express our sincere thanks to chief guest, speakers and paper presenter for their valuable contribution to make seminar meaningful.

IPI- Nepal is always eager to join hands with the FNJ, FES and other media related organizations for the cause of press freedom and the journalists.We are confident that IPI-Nepal will receive continious support and cooperation from all concerning sectors in the days to come.

-------------------------------
Pushkar Lal Shrestha, President, IPI-Nepal, 10 May 2004