The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, welcomes the establishment of a Press Freedom Monitoring Centre in Kathmandu by IPI’s National Committee in Nepal.

The Centre, which started operating on 12 February, will monitor the status of, and challenges to, press freedom and freedom of expression in Nepal during the run-up to the Constituent Assembly Election, currently scheduled for April 2008, and the nation’s constitution drafting process. It aims to increase awareness, both locally and internationally, about press freedom violations occurring in Nepal, and about the importance of press freedom in the country’s democratisation process.

IPI placed Nepal on its Watch List in 2005, in order to closely monitor the country’s press freedom environment, which deteriorated dramatically as a consequence of Nepal’s political crisis. Since then, Nepal’s political situation has witnessed some positive developments, but problems persist in the wider media environment, with widespread disrespect for press freedom continuing to affect journalists and media outlets.

“Nepal’s media will only be able to play a fundamental role in the country’s effort to establish democracy and peace if its journalists are permitted to report freely and without harassment,” said IPI Director David Dadge. “Recent assaults against Nepalese journalists underscore the need for such a monitoring centre, which will serve as a powerful tool to help raise awareness about the importance of true press freedom and journalist safety, particularly in times of such important political change.”

Chiranjibi Kafle and Khildhoj Thapa have been appointed as Project Coordinator and Co-Coordinator of the Press Freedom Monitoring Centre, respectively. Mr. Kafle has had a long career in media and university teaching, and spearheaded a media monitoring project with the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) during 2001-04. Mr. Thapa has nearly three decades of experience in journalism, both with Nepal’s National News Agency and other media outlets.

The Press Freedom Monitoring Centre can be contacted at the following telephone numbers: +977-1-4102022 (landline); +9741134816 (cell. Khildhoj Thapa).