Nepal\u2019s media<\/a> community has reportedly raised concerns over the new law saying that the new criminal code is suppressing the press freedom.<\/p>\nPress associations have claimed that the government is using the \u2018code\u2019 as a tool to silence critics.<\/p>\n
Journos Take on Criminal Code<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\u201cThese general laws can be misused to silence journalists and discourage investigative reporting,\u201d says Govinda Acharya<\/span>, President, Federation of Nepalese Journalists.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAccording to Acharya, the new codes have nearly 200 provisions to curtail the press freedom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough several provisions in these codes are positive, almost all sections from 21 to 306 will pose a threat to free press and freedom of expression in one way or the other,\u201d Acharya adds.<\/p>\n
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Whereas, Press Council Nepal President Borna Bahadur Karki<\/span> says, \u201cthe provisions against press freedom can be amended accordingly, but it is not appropriate to interpret the laws wrongly.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\nMeanwhile, Nepal\u2019s popular political cartoonist Rajesh K.C. termed the new law as a means to \u2018authoritarianism\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur work is to point out mistakes and abuses of those in power, but these laws can force self-censorship,\u201d says Rajesh<\/span>, who is known for his satirical cartoons on social issues and country\u2019s politics.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nAnother premier state-owned media house urged the government to reconsider the law, stating that the new law has lot of scope for interpretations and could be used to prosecute journalists.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThese general laws can be misused to silence journalists and discourage investigative reporting,\u201d says a senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi<\/span>. Tripathi feels that the new laws placed press freedom at stake.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nBadri Sigdel<\/span>, president of Nepal Press Union (NPU), says the new code is violating the Constitutional provisions and is keen on controlling the press rights. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Thrashing all statements, Senior Superintendent of Police Thakur Gyawali at the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police<\/span> says, \u201cSince the new laws have come into force upon their publication in the Nepal Gazette, all should abide by the provisions mentioned therein.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\u201cWhether or not the laws are against press freedom will come to light in the course of their implementation,\u201d adds Superintendent of Police Narendra Upreti<\/span> at Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Crime Division.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhat\u2019s Criticism in the Code?<\/strong> \nThe new code has drawn wide criticism majorly for following reasons, i.e.<\/p>\n\nIt considers sharing confidential information as a jailable offense<\/li>\n It subjects any individual, involved in publishing of private information or recording audio or capturing pictures without permission, up to three years jail along with a fine<\/li>\n It considers as an offense any act that intends to damage an individual\u2019s reputation either personally or through satires<\/li>\n It replaces the country\u2019s 165-year-old practice of \u2018Muluki Ain\u2019<\/li>\n It calls for prosecution of any medical professional causing a patient\u2019s death while undertaking treatment<\/li>\n It calls \u2018unauthorized reporting of communication between two people\u2019 as a serious crime<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNow, its worth-wait to see what more mixed reactions the new Criminal Code would drive from other sections of the society too!<\/p>\n
Also Read<\/strong><\/p>\n\nNepal Civil Code and Criminal Code Acts to Ensure Justice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Media\/Press will be the forefront in any country when a new reform is brought into practice.…<\/span><\/p>\nRead more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":761,"featured_media":15259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1322,5422,1070,8397,1076,2559,98,3069,8398,2994,2286,8396,2285,177],"yoast_head":"\n
Nepal Criminal Code Draws Criticism, \u2018Press Freedom\u2019 Plays Vital<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n