Kathmandu - A visiting international press freedom group advised Nepal's new government Thursday to make changes to preserve and strengthen press freedom in the country that emerged in April from direct rule by King Gyanendra.
The group - headed by Christopher Warren, president of the International Federation of Journalists - gave a five-point recommendation to the ruling Seven-Party Alliance government that suggested changes to the proposed interim constitution.
The group, which was on a four-day visit to the Himalayan country, said there was nothing substantially different in the legal provisions incorporated in the proposed document from those already in force under the 1990 constitution and suggested the government give up control of the media it is now running. The government media includes a news agency, newspapers, and radio and television stations.
The group also said that laws relating to the working conditions of journalists needed to be improved.
At a press meeting Thursday before winding up the group's visit, Jesper Hojberg, the executive director of International Media Support, said the group prepared the five-point recommendations based on the meetings it had with government, political and Maoist leaders as well as people working in the media.
Hojberg said the group received commitments from the government, political parties and the Maoists relating to press freedom and hoped that the commitments would be translated into practice.
The international press freedom group visited Nepal twice during the direct rule of Gyanendra from February 2005 to April this year.
