Press Center Nepal Condemns Government Directive Restricting Ads to State Media

Kathmandu. Press Center Nepal has expressed serious concern over the directive issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, which mandates that government notices and advertisements be published exclusively through state-owned media. The organization has strongly objected to the directive, which was sent to federal, provincial, and local government bodies, stating that it threatens to cripple the private and community press sector.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Press Center General Secretary Manoj Ghartimagar noted that this government move weakens the press sector, which has played a vital role in Nepal's political transformation and the protection of democracy. The statement claims that this decision, which restricts the full press freedom guaranteed by the Constitution and threatens professional journalism, is a repetition of the autocratic tendencies of the Panchayat era.

The Press Center asserts that the federal government's issuance of such an order regarding advertisements, while also interfering with the rights of provincial and local governments, is against the spirit of federalism. Warning the government not to ignore a sector that supports the livelihoods of thousands of working journalists and media personnel, the organization criticized the state for its discriminatory view toward private media.

The statement mentions that in a democracy, media serves as the primary voice for the opposition and the public, and shrinking its role is contrary to democratic practice. Press Center Nepal has strongly condemned this 'autocratic' move by the government and demanded that the decision be corrected and withdrawn immediately.

The organization has strongly demanded the implementation of a systematic and transparent proportional advertising system to ensure equal treatment for all media outlets. General Secretary Ghartimagar has also warned that if the government does not rectify its decision, the entire media sector will be forced to launch protests, and the government will be held responsible for the resulting consequences.