First historic media conference concludes with a declaration

Damak, October 20:  The first historic media conference of the Bhutanese journalists in exiled concluded on October 20 in Jhapa, Nepal where they have been taking refugee for the last 17 years after being evicted from Bhutan.

The conference attended by top leaders of the Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) – Bhutan, Third World Media Network (TWMN) – Bhutan Chapter and Bhutan Press Union (BPU), also adopted a ‘Declaration de Exile’ demanding reforms in draft constitution and laws related to media and press freedom.

The declaration is jointly signed by I. P. Adhikari, president of APFA, C. N. Timsina, president of BPU and T. P. Mishra, president of TWMN Bhutan Chapter.

The journalists during the closed door session discussed various strategies to fight for press freedom and freedom of speech and expression in the country.

Speaking at the declaration session, president of Bhutan People’s Party (BPP) Bala Ram Poudel, Genera Secretary of Druk National Congress (DNC) Rinzin Dorji, General Secretary of Bhutan Gurkha National Liberation Front (BGNLF) Lalit Pradhan, Mohan Tamang of BNDP and Dilli Ram Ghorsai of BRRPC extended their support for promotion of media sector in Bhutanese community and uphold demand for press freedom and freedom of speech and expression in Bhutan. Bhutan News Service