TWMN allows for affiliation to Bhutanese Media

Kathmandu, October 17: The Third World Media Network (TWMN) an independent, international, non-profit organization of the working journalists from the least developed countries (LDCs) having it’s headquarter in Dhaka Bangladesh has recently given affiliation to TWMN-Bhutan Chapter.

According Teju Chouhan, the Secretary General of TWMN-Bhutan Chapter, they received a response letter from the headquarter stating the acceptance of Bhutan Chapter in TWMN. The Bhutan committee comprises of seven members under the President ship of Thakur P Mishra, the Editor of The Bhutan Reporter.

Talking to BNS Chouhan said, TWMN-Bhutan Chapter will work independently for at least a year and we may then affiliate it under Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA)-Bhutan, the umbrella organization struggling for establishing complete press freedom, freedom of speech and expression inside Bhutan. “But provided in a condition that TWMN headquarter will have no objection” he added. Chouhan also informed BNS that Bhutan Chapter will soon begin publishing a free circular, monthly Bulletin (only electronic copy in PDF format) from inside Bhutan through efforts from some of its members who are now in Capital city Thimphu.

According to the information uploaded in TWMN official website, the President of TWMN-Bhutan Chapter is a self nominated Central Committee member of TWMN-Headquarter. Further, it states that TWMN is dedicated towards increasing the efficiency of reporters, feature writers, editorial staff and other media professionals in the member countries. It also acts as a watchdog of press freedom across the world, particularly in the developing and least developed countries.

This is the first time that such large media network has given affiliation to Bhutan chapter where free press, freedom of speech and expression doesn’t exist at all. Bhutan News Service