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An enemy within

[Paraphrase of some interesting points of two speeches during the launching of a book entitled MBM Anthology of Media Ethics edited by my friend Bhuwan KC. The speeches were those of Minister for Communication and Information Shankar Pokharel and Professor P Kharel.]

Shankar Pokharel

Politicians and/or political parties use media for two reasons: either to establish their opinion or to bargain on certain political interest. Political news without quoting sources is less information/facts and more message of political interest.

Journalists should always use multiple sources on sensitive news.

Media prioritize on making an issue controversial rather than making news creditable. This makes news focusing on negative side. The tendency to covering news on its positive aspects is lacking.

While reading news, we find that the reporters speak from within the news. This, I believe, is a legacy of mission journalism when journalists could not find anyone to speak and people were not free to speak as freely as the journalists.

The change is also needed in the diversified coverage. Media is centered in political issues while the social change requires media also focusing on financial and social issues.

Media also have to be play role in national interest. Media coverage of Iraq war by US media and Mumbai attack by Indian media are some examples. US media covered bad news about the war only after the war ended. I wonder if incident similar to Mumbai attack had happened in Nepal, our media would have criticizing long time taken by police to end the seizure.

Prof. P Kharel

Nepali media has to be clear in a few aspects of media ethics.

The first is on being activists of political parties. Should journalists be political activists or not?

The second is media need to clarify on junket / gifts. Free trips and/or gifts makes journalists more inclined to cover issues for those benefits. Media need to have clear policy on those aspects. I am not saying it’s wrong, but at least media need to develop a kind of policy which does stop individual journalist from seeking such favors from INGOs/embassies/ministries through media coverage.

===

The title of this post came from a small story that Nirmala Mani Adhikary said during his welcome speech. Once Buddha asked a King who was building big walls to protect his palace: the wall would save you from outer enemies but what would save you from the enemies within your palace?

Minister Pokharel recalled the story and said there are no ways in modern democracy that the state could make public policy or laws or regulations against freedom of press; and in such scenario the biggest enemy of the media’s professional development is non-implementation of ethics.

I agreed!

===

The book MBM Anthology on Media Ethics is published by Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the Madan Bhandari Memorial College and it’s Communication Study Center and edited by Bhuwan KC. It has four articles: Development of journalistic ethics in Nepal (by Yam Bahadur Dura), Practices of Journalistic Ethics in Nepal (by Bhuwan KC), Looking for a common ground: Ethical practices in South Asian media (by Indra Dhoj Kshetri) and Manusmriti as a resource of media ethics (by Nirmala Mani Adhikary).

I reckon this book a very useful resource for media students and those interested in media for some valuable articles and the collection of all media ethic documents of Nepal (in annexes).

A disclaimer: I was involved as a copy editor in the book.

December 27, 2009 by Journalism & Media Mainstream Media

A game of neighbors

A game of football is all about scoring. A player needs to penetrate into the opponent’s area to score goals – and if the defense is not good, then there will be more room to play for the opponents. Every goal is scored because of a weakness!

The game of politics is similar – not same because the number of players is not equal; there are not strict referees or rules! More so, when it’s a game of diplomacy [or diplomatic relations]! And, the topmost point on saving your game is that: don’t let opponents the playing space!

* * *

Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) was at his best [either for honesty or satire] when he addressed the mass meeting at New Baneshwor after the conclusion of two-and-half-day of general strike.

Here is a piece of what he said [copied from myrepublica.com / ekantipur.com]

Why talk to puppets here in Nepal? I have no energy for talks with the leaders of the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress. Now the talks will only be with the master.

We are ready to hold talks with New Delhi.

It’s a pity that the parties are helpless when it comes to taking any decision on their own as they are remote-controlled by New Delhi.

Was this a self-realization? Or an outcry for not being helped by India to form their government? Or simply the truth?

Many people I listened to at the teashops believe it’s the truth that Nepali political parties are puppets to our big neighbors. But along with that all of them believe that what Prachanda said including all the bad things about India was simply an outcry because the Maoists were not favored by New Delhi.

* * *

Most of the times, the truth is bitter to swallow.

And, the truth is that India is a powerful neighbor on which we depend on many things. All over the world, it’s not a new thing that the smaller countries are dominated by big neighbors.

However, we are in better than many other countries’ position because we are in-between two future superpowers. A perfect balance in diplomacy could help us in our benefits.

Yes, the Indians are playing with our internal matters. They are because there are a lot of things they can gain from us – mainly in resource-sharing sector. But then who to blame?

In football, it’s more blame on your side than to the opponents. The opponents are there to score; it’s your weakness to let then score.

The Indians want benefits (in fact everybody wants benefits, including the political parties and leaders – only difference could be for the country or the party). And, it’s our weakness that they are using to play on us.

* * *

What Prachanda said is a shame for them; for us. Because it came from the mouth of a former prime minister who has still a long years left in which he is well-placed to become the nation’s top leader.

To speak against any neighboring or non-neighboring friendly nation on mass gathering is a foolish thing on the part of the leaders of his height. There is no gain of it other than a thousand more claps in the program and a mockery in the newspapers.

God bless us!

More on topic:

Roundup of media coverage on Prachanda’s speech @ The Brief

Irresponsible and senseless [editorial] @ Republica

Irresponsible and senseless
December 23, 2009 by Politics Talks Sadly!

Simply inhuman

Killing anyone is a crime itself. Killing someone for criticism is an act of people who have already lost a portion of humanism. Attempting to kill a journalist for what she wrote – that too by gradually cutting her right fingers and pushing off a cliff – is simply inhuman.

Tika Bista, a 22-year-old Rukum-based lady journalist, was brutally attacked for murder and thrown on the 20-meter deep cliff and left to die. She was found next day, airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment and she is still fighting for life.

A few things indicate that the attackers though unknown as yet are Maoists.

Reports say Bista had been receiving phone threats in connection with her recent commentary on local Jantidhara weekly titled – “Why Maoists need Tirtha’s sindoor?”

She wrote the article in response of Maoists using a slogan about martial symbol (sindoor) of former MP Tirtha Gautam, widowed due to murder of her husband by the Maoists in 1999, while waving black flags to a minister.

Bista had issued a press release last week on the threats she was receiving from unknown people after the article was published.

While talking to her friend at the Nepalgunj Hospital when she regained consciousness briefly, Bista quoted a male threatening her on mobile as saying:

Writing about the widows?.. Should I send you to heaven? Yadu Gautam is already there and you can meet him there.

According to The Himalayan Times, the brave journalist told the friend: I’ll never be intimidated by such attacks. Nor do I want my name to be among killed journalists.

Such first-degree murder attempt to people for what they write/think/believe should stop!

NepaliVoices strongly condemn the attack and demand government to arrest and punish those involved!

December 10, 2009 by Journalism & Media Sadly!

Nepal Cabinet meets at Everest!

December 4, 2009. A date to remember because Nepal government created a world record by holding a cabinet meeting at Kala Patthar – 5,5542m / 18,192 ft above sea level.

cabinet-6807364

The meeting was held to create awareness about melting in the Himalaya due to human-induced climate change.

For a few things, I feel good about the meeting:

  • The first and foremost important is it generated the awareness about melting of Himalaya. A few years back, there were a lot of concern (media coverage) about Cho Rolpa lake which was on the verge of exploding and if that had happened, there could have been a big problem in quite a large area – places on the banks of river Tamakoshi. The risk was reduced spending a good sum of money. But there are some other such lakes high on the Himalaya that could break free and flood into us.
  • The second is the coverage Nepal got through the event will help boost Nepali tourism. I would love to take a photograph at the Kala Patthar helipad where the meeting took place. Why not put a stone sculpture marking the venue?

Climate Change is a big issue, and as Nepal can not rule itself out of danger coming from rising sea level no country can rule itself out of dangers arising from melting Himalaya. Climate change effects are global and it needs a consolidated and honest effort to fight it.

Not a single country or a group of nations can fight climate change; that’s the truth. For saving our mother earth to our future generation, all individuals and individual countries have to work together. Unity is the key to fight climate change.

Nepal is nothing on the economic and/or political map of the world; but the concern raised by it [and the even smaller Maldives during their undersea cabinet meeting] has given people around the world a smile [what the heck!..] but that way they will also think about climate change!

The message given by Nepal’s cabinet meeting at the Everest region was loud and clear: [as put forward by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal] “Climate change is not only issue of the mountainous nations or nations at the sea level, it´s a common issue of all. To save the earth, the biggest sacrifice is needed from the nations producing large amount of carbon.

Questioning NTV live

Two disturbing observations about Nepal Television’s live coverage:

  • Nepal Television’s ‘live coverage’ of the meeting itself. The tape brought early from Kala Patthar was broadcasted as if it was live. The announcer was describing the event as if it was happening right then. I knew it was not because it was broadcasted after we were informed from the journalists at Kala Patthar that the meeting had concluded.

ntv-300x199-1101098

  • As the ministers arrived back to Syangboche, a TV presenter described the decisions made by the cabinet ahead of the press conference in which the cabinet described the thing. Understandable fact is that the presenter received a copy of decisions, but was it ethical to announce that by himself ahead of ‘official announcement’?
December 4, 2009 by Featured Mainstream Media Sadly!

In praise of Maoists

This is something rarely written for the Maoists; but their good-natured tactic of peaceful protest has earned at least a few good things for them. One of them is praise from people like me and one other is at least a little faith on ‘what they say’.

The Maoists top leaders said the protests would be peaceful. And, it went peaceful.

For normal citizens, there were of course troubles for they closed down the streets wherever they were protesting and also blocked all roads leading to the Kathmandu Valley for a day.

This meant that people suffered – but well less than what many suspected when the largest party with a violent past announced the stir.

On Thursday, they picketed Singha Durbar, the main administrative area of Nepal. The Maoists cadres poured into the valley from all around – in dozens of buses – as if there is going to be a war and that the side with greater number will win.

Singha Durbar had never been picketed; thus it was new and all around it are prohibited area [even journalists wanted to cross the line when they protested] but the Maoists did not tried to cross over.

Once on Thursday, there was a brief clash – police firing a few shells of tear-gas while Maoists tried to cross the line – but calmness returned soon.

And, most importantly for me, they did what they said! The leaders and cadres acted as a unit – not that leaders saying contradictory things and then cadres doing whatsoever they wanted. They looked like a party under leadership’s control.

prachanda

PICNIC IN PROTEST: Maoist supremo Prachanda dances in tunes of actress Rekha Thapa during the Maoists’ picketing of the Singha Durbar.

A few stars for them also for turning the protest into ‘picnic’. They sang, danced and enjoyed on the streets – some of the film stars joining them.

One more praise for the Maoists for establishing a culture that strikes/protests might also be carried on without burning tyres or vandalizing public properties. And, that’s the best part and I hope all other parties would follow it when it comes their turn to protest.

But from Friday, their protest ended. What results would it produce? Looks like virtually nothing than a little amazement.

But seriously, I hope that the ruling coalition will take the protest to be flexible towards Maoists and that the Maoists will be flexible – enough from both sides to behave as an unit at least in constitution making and peace process.

Two rigid sides can not compromise; the compromise with one side rigid would not yield faith and long-term co-operation; thus I hope that both sides – ruling coalition and the Maoists should somehow agree on a few basic things including two hot issues – the constitution making and peace process and democratically solve issues arising during the deliberations on these issues.

Everyone knows: there is no alternative way! Everyone knows: they should someday unite! So sooner the better!

November 13, 2009 by Politics Talks

It’s wave, Google Wave!

After a long anticipation and a few weeks of jealousy [when others were talking about it and I had not invitation], I finally got to use Google Wave – the great Google’s new project in coming.

I have 20 of my 635 Gmail contacts on Google Wave – most of them are not my regular contacts. So, my use of Google Wave is all about thinking of possibilities and learning about it.

So what I find? Wave is chat + email (including multimedia) + (optional crowdsourcing)! The best use could be for group discussions – as a journalist I say for group reporting or following large scale news like election or natural disaster. Better than using email in such scenario as its just function like group chat.

Threaded email – a great feature introduced by Gmail – looked confusing at the beginning but now I found it a must. This is threaded chat – with more possibilities.

Easier than Facebook to control who can see your updates (or wave). It’s not an alternative to Facebook or Twitter or even Gmail right now – but I feel – that the Google guys have kept all the doors open, as they go on, they will introduce everything and when they will have a good user base they will leave nothing to turn it into the one alternative to all such services!

They don’t have much extensions now but the scope for extensions is unlimited.

Not much of good things right now, but of course, with huge possibility to be ‘a must have’.

November 4, 2009 by Tech Talk

Mr Hyde (of Maoists) wakes up

The efforts to forget political consensus among top three political parties in Nepal was going well (quotes of Maoist leaders):

The meeting ended on a positive note. The meeting was a step closer toward resolving the problem.

– Maoist leader Dev Gurung (on October 23)

We will show flexibility for the end of political deadlock.

– Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma (on October 20)

And, all of the sudden, it seemed like all that was a child’s play (headlines of news on October 25):

New condition by Maoists: ‘Government under our leadership’

Maoist Vice-chair Narayankaji Shrestha said the proposal for a Maoist-led government is not a new one. “We have been demanding it for long.

(from myrepublica.com)

So what changed all of the sudden?

At least for an ordinary citizen, nothing (the leaders could have talked secretly to many things that we were unaware of). If nothing had changed in these few days, why the Maoists become Mr. Hyde?

The Maoists have proved they are not very good at the politics of bargaining (otherwise how could a party that could form a government under their leadership fail to elect their candidates in the post of president, vice-president and speaker!) Had they realized during all those meetings, they were being dominated by?

I don’t know that but if Maoists decide to launch a nationwide movement against the government, it could be a bad decision. If they fail… Then what next?

Even if they return to the talks, it would make nothing other than making their image childish! (but that would be a good choice at least for the country, I believe).

[Note: Mr Hyde as in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson]

October 26, 2009 by Politics Talks Sadly!

The times they are a-changin’

bad-125-125-2770131On the first week of October, I had planned a trekking trip with my wife. Since September-October was considered to be the best season to visit, we were both very excited about the trip to Poon Hill, one of the best viewing places in Nepal for sunrise and Annapurna range of Himalaya.

The trip was to be postponed a few times – to the frustration of both of us – because there was heavy rainfall and then there were landslides on highway.

Heavy rainfall after Hindu’s biggest festival Dashain was almost new for all of us! It should have been two months earlier during the rainy season when we had news about lack of rainfall for paddy plantation.

—

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.
– Bob Dylan’s The Time They are a-Changin’

As the song played on my desktop, I tried to compare if his first paragraph somehow is related to the events that happened around my trip plans. Something is changing… that’s for sure. But is it time that is changing us or we changing the time?

And, as Dylan goes, should we start swimming or left our generations to sink?

—

Climate Change is a big issue – made bigger as big INGOs go crying about it and investing a lot on it. We heard of news that says scholars debating about it in some five-star facilities or that there are conventions on it going on.

Suddenly, for an ordinary man, it’s become an issue of no interest.

But then, it will be the ordinary men who would suffer first if the conditions go on worsening. But why does it seems like those millions can do nothing about it: they are neither running big factories that produces carbon dioxide, most of the time not even using vehicles that too produce it or not running factories that produces chemicals wastage.

What is there we, the ordinary people, can do?

—

Last year, I wrote Little Step for Big Leap, where I write about a tree that I had planted when I was a child:

As a child I have planted a tree and now the tree is big and green! I am happy but is it enough? Maybe not, but if we all do small things like that then we can change everything. Maybe decreasing the font size by one step so that a page in decreased while printing; or not using plastic bags when not absolutely needed can help.

From within a busy schedule we have, let’s take out a minute everyday and think about environment and how can we make it better, or at least keep it as of today’s, can change our future. Little steps for big leap

And, it continues to be my theory. If all ordinary people do at least one thing for environment – no matter how small – together it is a big leap – a leap that may save something for our future generations!

(Written in celebrations of Blog Action Day. Learn about Climate Change: Facts & Figures, 100 Effects & 10 Solutions)

October 15, 2009 by Featured

Tihar: hopes of enlightenment

tihar

Bhailini aain angana, gunyu cholo magana!
He aausiko baro, gai tiharo bhailo!
or
Ye hai bhana mera bhai ho, deusi re!
Ye hai ramrai bhana, deusi re!

Each echoing sound of these Tihar songs gives a nostalgic vibration to me (as to many Nepalis). For these were the songs, we probably waited most eagerly to sing during our childhood. Among five days of Tihar – the festival of lights – the two evenings before the final day of Bhai Tika gave most of us the most entertaining moments of the childhood!

To go to people’s houses, sing deusi or bhailo and return happily (and sleepy) with some money was always the best feelings of the festival. And, the next day’s tika from sisters (and the nuts, sweets and fruits) makes the festival a win-win situation!

—

This Tihar is at the moment when there could be win-win situation for the country. Politically, there is every chance that a national government will be formed; the disrupted parliament will function and the much-awaited constitution writing process goes ahead on a fast lane!

Since before Dashain festival, the Maoists, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML – the top three parties of the nation – are talking consensus. Deadline: Tihar!

The Maoists are threatening bigger movement – thankfully they are not saying bloodier! – if no consensus reached. The other two parties – octogenarian Girija Prasad Koirala’s Congress and divided CPN-UML of PM Madhav Kumar Nepal – are saying Maoists are not being flexible enough.

For people: the thing that matters is consensus! No more conflict, no more dirty politics! We need leaders and parties to do something for the nation – without thinking of benefits of their parties.

Could this Tihar prove win-win for all Nepalis! Let’s pray!

Happy Tihar!

October 14, 2009 by Politics Talks Uzz Update

The mockery of democracy

Believe it or not, Nepali politics is dirty. Politics in underdeveloped countries such as Nepal is always dirty, because we, the people, and leaders rarely understand the essence of it. This is also true because for the politicians, their career and party generally come before the nation.

For the Maoists in Nepal, the most important thing right now is the terming of the President’s denial to obey their decision to sack army chief as ‘unconstitutional’ – for them: it’s the prime priority; it does not matter even if the constitution is not written or the peace process does not go forward.

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?

– Mahatma Gandhi

For me, a Nepali, terming the move does not matter. If they think it’s unconstitutional, ensure that it’s explicitly written in the new constitution.

For Nepali Congress, it’s ‘not unconstitutional’. Come on, what if Dr Ram Baran Yadav resigns and we get a new president if it’s termed ‘unconstitutional’.

As for me, Yadav and everyone of those 14,000 killed during the Maoists’ War are equal and, as the people’s leader, Yadav should be happy to resign if that means a great way forward for the nation’s most important tasks!

Democracy is the substitution of election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

– George Bernard Shaw

We have proved it. Theoretically, people’s voices count loud in democracy. Not in Nepal’s democracy though. No matter how much years current Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had given for his political career, he was the ‘unchosen one’ from two constituencies.

No matter how good he is performing, he should not have been appointed the top post to lead the people.

Ditto to Sujata Koirala, the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister. What a mockery of democracy the oldest leader of the oldest party, and of the nation for that matter, has made?

Incompetent people have chosen ‘the incompetent few’ – as proven by the cry the great leaders of the party are making after she, the most applicable qualification of her being the daughter of the ‘almost great leader’ took oath of office.

The jokers (as the father had made them) were left issuing press release opposing the appointment. If the party cannot have internal democracy, how could they promise us a democracy?

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.

– Sir Winston Churchill

But we have no choice! Democracy is the lone choice and those leaders are the only candidates on offer. Even if among all those 600, we have a few good one, they stand nothing more than a mere follower of the greats – as in a herd of sheep!

But, as incompetent as we are or as foolish as we are, all these things will be forgotten when the election comes and we will either be Kangressi, Yemale or Maobadi – voting for them closing eyes on what they did or who is the candidates.

The greatest mockery of the democracy was/will be made by not the ‘corrupt few’ but the ‘incompetent many’!

October 13, 2009 by Politics Talks Sadly!

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