Reporters were barred from covering news at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on May 4.
According to a reporter from News Agency Nepal, media persons from various outlets were restricted from reporting at the premises following an order from Prime Minister Balen Shah. As PM Shah entered the office, security persons instructed journalists to stop recording videos and leave the premise.
However, Press Advisor at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Dipa Dahal, stated that no such instruction had been issued to restrict journalists. She clarified that journalists are not barred from reporting or collecting information from areas where they are permitted. According to her, the issue reported by the media was merely a technical matter and not related to any restriction on press freedom.
Freedom Forum welcomes the secretariat's addressing of the issue. The concerned authority is urged to ensure an enabling environment for journalists to carry out reporting.
For more,
Freedom Forum
info@freedomforum.org.np