Press Council Nepal Expresses Concern Over BBC Documentary on Gen Z Protests Ahead of Elections

Kathmandu. Press Council Nepal has expressed concern regarding a documentary broadcast by the BBC on its YouTube channel. Issuing a press release on Friday, the Council stated it was drawn to the documentary concerning the Gen Z movement that took place last Bhadra, ahead of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for Falgun 21.

The press release, signed by Ramsharan Bohara, Information Officer of Press Council Nepal, stated, 'It is a sensitive matter that a documentary of this nature, concerning events during the movement led by the Gen Z generation, is being broadcast by a foreign media outlet on its YouTube channel in a manner that could influence the elections, especially when a high-level empowered commission formed to investigate the incidents and take action against the guilty is still conducting its investigation and its report is yet to be received.'

Stating that the BBC is operated from a foreign country, the Council's meeting decided to request the Government of Nepal and the Election Commission, through diplomatic coordination, to proceed with the process for regulating content broadcast from that media outlet and its associated social media, as the Council does not have clear jurisdiction over such matters.

The statement issued by the Council mentioned that under the provisions of Article 11 of the Journalist Code of Conduct, 2073, the 'Procedure for Complaints and Action on Journalist Code of Conduct, 2075' includes a provision in Article 5(tha) stating that 'in the event of a complaint and action against an online or other medium operated from abroad, coordination should be made through the Nepali Embassy if the person is a Nepali citizen, or through diplomatic channels if they are a foreign citizen.' Furthermore, Article 25 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, specifies the 'Conduct to be followed by media establishments, concerned employees, and journalists.'

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The press release further stated, 'Lately, it has been observed that many Nepali media outlets are broadcasting content analyzing the documentary released by BBC World Service with their own opinions, without testing its credibility. We draw the attention of all concerned that this is contrary to Article 4 (3), 4(6), 5 (2) (2) of the Journalist Code of Conduct, 2073, and Article 4(p) and Article 25 (1) (ta) of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082. We hereby inform that action will be initiated against media outlets broadcasting such content.'

While Press Council Nepal respects the editorial independence of national/international media, it has urged all concerned not to republish, broadcast, or transmit materials that could influence the election, negatively affect political parties and candidates participating in the election, mislead voters, or affect impartial voting, including analytical content related to the election and materials transmitted by foreign media that could influence the election, until the election is completed.

On Thursday, the BBC had released a detailed investigative report on the state suppression of peaceful demonstrations by Nepali youth, who were frustrated by corruption, lack of good governance, and political instability.