Guarantee media freedom: TWMN

September 16 is the founding day of the Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network. TWMN – Bhutan Chapter was recognized by the headquarters in September 16, 2006. We are very much pleased to the headquarters for giving us affiliation.

TWMN – Bhutan Chapter has not done much but it has been continuously voicing for the establishment of complete media freedom in Bhutan. On this special occasion, we vow to continue our fight for press freedom in this Himalayan kingdom.

We would like to express words of gratitude to all individuals and organizations that directly or indirectly extended support during the course of our great struggle for media freedom in Bhutan. TWMN – Bhutan Chapter expects similar support and solidarity in the days to come.

TWMN – Bhutan Chapter also demands the government of Bhutan to be serious towards guaranteeing media freedom in the country.

TWMN – Bhutan concerns newspaper closure

Kathmandu, September 14: The Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network (TWMN) has expressed its deep concern towards closure of The Bhutan Jagaran.

Issuing a press statement on Sunday, TWMN – Bhutan Chapter has appealed individuals, donor agencies, international media bodies, well-wishers and Bhutanese living abroad to extend possible financial support to make the newspaper survive.

“The closure of The Bhutan Jagaran will lead to great obstruction in the smooth dissemination of reliable, accurate and independent information to refugee community in Nepal”, reads the statement, adding there is an urgent need to resume the publication of the newspaper.

Source: Bhutan News Service

Fortnightly paper stops, appeals for support

Kathmandu, September 10: The Bhutan Jagaran (BJ), widely circulated Nepali fortnightly newspaper in camps, published by the Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhutan (NSPB) discontinued its hard prints from August due to the lack of potential funding."We tried all means and measures not to stop the publication for several months but finally we are doing this", said Khem Kafle, the editor of the paper.
According to Kafle, several organizations including the aid agencies working in the camps, exiled organizations and well-wishers have been reached for the support. But, none of them listened to the appeal to make the BJ printed.Bhola Sapkota, who is an active member of the NSPB, said that when people were disorganized in the initial stage of camp set-up, the BJ played a crucial role to disseminate news on Bhutan, the Bhutanese citizens and related issues.
"Now we are losing the regular newspaper that has touched many readers in camps", Sapkota expressed.The NSPB, issuing a circular yesterday, has appealed its well-wishers and aid agencies to help continue the paper
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SAMSN strategy meeting concludes

Source: Bhutan News Service
Kathmandu, September 06: Member of the South Asian Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN), the forum of South Asian media organisations affiliated to International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) concluded their regional strategy meeting Saturday in Kathmandu.

The three-day meeting ended up with adopting a charter and action plan to improve the situation of press freedom in the region alongside ensuring democratic media environment. The media rights activists also expressed commitments to strengthen the trade unions of the journalists across South Asia.

I. P. Adhikari, president of the Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) Bhutan represented Bhutan in the regional meeting that takes place every two years.

Adhikari alerted the regional forum of the anti-media legal instruments in Bhutan and call for action from IFJ and its affiliates to improve the media situation where government intervention has not ended in media houses.

The meeting expressed concern over the circulation Bhutan InfoCom and Media Authority made to radio stations in Thimphu last month, increasing number of attacks on journalists in Jammu & Kashmir state of India, increasing number of violence against media in Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

An exclusive statement was adopted against attacks on journalists in Kashmir calling on the actors to protect the rights of the journalists.