TP Mishra
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Journalist blocking condemned - 2007/07/05 14:30
Himal South Asian, which organized an interaction program on ‘exiled Bhutanese issue’ on July 03 in Kathmandu denied physical presence of one of the radio journalists associated with Bhutan News Service (BNS).
The organizer, citing the meeting being highly confidential, denied Ichha Poudel’s presence in the program who had reached the meeting hall.
Kanak Mani Dixit, the organizer cum Chief Editor of Himal South Asian, one of the popular magazines in South Asia, requested Poudel, who somehow managed to enter inside meeting place, to leave the hall despite his repeated appeal.
“I tried convincing Dixit since it was a program where my future is being discussed”, Poudel informed the BNS. “He told me not to attend the program citing it to be confidential”, Poudel added.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) – Bhutan has strongly condemned the organizer’s request to Bhutan News Service representaitive leave the meeting hall.
“We are deeply concerned about the way a renowned journalist, Dixit, requested another journalist not to attend the meeting citing its confidentiality”, the release reads, adding- “Why can’t Poudel not be allowed when some exiled Bhutanese were already there inside the discussion?”
The release has further sought the attention of authorities concerned to respect the right of a journalist to gather information.
Meanwhile, Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network (TWMN) has also shown deep concern over hassling a journalist. TWMN – Bhutan Chapter has appealed for the support of International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) to help create conducive atmosphere for Bhutanese journalists in exile to exercise their right to information.
Shouldn't journalist in exile have their right to exercise their right to information?
And how fair is it to block a journalist by another journalist from attending the discussion where his own protracted issue was being discussed?
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