Press freedom movement to Continue (Exclusive)
The Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA-Bhutan) has published a report on Status of Press Freedom in Bhutan ‘Silenced and Controlled’ coinciding World Press Day 2007.
According to the report, media environment in Bhutan has not improved in the year 2006/07. The legislations adopted in 2006 have further curbed the freedom of press and freedom of speech and expression of the people.
“The draft constitution does not adequately incorporate the principles of press freedom and freedom of speech and expression of the citizens and residents. Sub Article (2) of Article 7 states, ‘A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech, opinion and expression and Sub Article (3) reads, ‘A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. No person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement’.
Similarly, Sub Article (4) goes, ‘There shall be freedom of press, radio and television and other forms dissemination of information, including electronic,’ and the (5) goes as, ‘A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to information’.
There are various other provisions that restrict the press freedom and freedom of expression. The draft constitution has objectionable provisions under Emergency section. Article 33/6 delivers greater power to the government to the extent that it can provide any kind of orders to local government”, the report reads.
The report has further said that the act does not guarantee the security of the working journalists and also does not speak about the perks and other facilities that journalists must get from media organization in return to the services provided.
“Government still restricts the transmission of some foreign TV channels. The government cites the eroding effect on Bhutanese culture as the reason to bar the transmission of such TV channels. Few news channels like Aajtak, CNN-IBN, fashion TV, MTV and few other Indian channels have been censored”.
In a press release issued on World Press Freedom Day, APFA – Bhutan has demanded that all vague provisions be revised in the draft constitution and media act and that all powers given to the ministry or the government to cancel the licenses or stop the publication or transmission or telecast of the newspapers, radios and TV be removed to guarantee that once registered, media houses are allowed to work unhindered.
Meanwhile, the Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network in a press statement has said that Bhutanese People have been deprived of their fundamental right to information since centuries. TWMN – Bhutan Chapter has declared the continuous struggle for press freedom until Bhutan government guarantees media freedom, freedom of speech and expression inside the country. “We also urge for unification in Bhutanese journalists both in exile and inside the country to center their voice for media freedom inside the country”, the release reads.
“TWMN – Bhutan Chapter believes that the forthcoming general election in Bhutan in 2008 will not be fair until the government allows independent and private media houses and human rights organizations to freely operate and scrutinize. We also believe that peoples’ democracy will never foster until the government of Bhutan guarantees media freedom”, the release further reads.
TWMN – Bhutan Chapter has also called international human rights bodies and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to investigate the arrest of Shantiram Acharya by Bhutanese army who, it’s claimed, has been working as a reporter for a number of newspapers run inside Bhutanese refugee camps. Bhutan News Service