Invited to be accused
Each time government organises ‘meet the press’, the primary accuses media persons must listen from the cabinet members are that they acted irresponsible, they are damaging the image of the nation, inviting chaos and tarnishing personalities of the political leadership.
The story continued on the day PM presented his state report the parliament on Friday. I interestingly noted labour minister Dorji Wangdi burning out of anger against a recently run Kuensel article where he was accused of favouring party members. His indirect warning was that he should never be accused or criticised.
He warned that journalists are pushing the government to go authoritarian. The obvious inquisitive is when Bhutan became liberal or democratic so there are circumstances for it to return to authoritarian form. It has always remained authoritarian and will remain so.
PM Thinly was furious about news about Bhutan being failed state. There is no reason to panic from the news if the country has not gone through that stage. He was particularly panic of such reports when it comes for the government to seek donations and grants to meet the annual expenses. Donors might not invest in a failed state.
When a journalist walked out in the middle of the session, it further made the ministers angry. They want media persons to stay and listen them. The whole idea behind calling meet the press does not carry any meaning here. I appreciate how tolerant are the Bhutanese journalists –they attend the meet despite the fact that most of the time, in each meet, is spent accusing journalists of not acting responsibly.
A democratic leader does not accuse journalists for writing anything. If anything has gone wrong due to news report, law is in place to take action. Leaders are to give explanations of the questions raised in media forums, correct things if reported wrongly. The easiest solution of what has been expressed in this meet would have been resolved if the government ministers made a statement following each unreliable or incorrect news published in the papers. Media will obviously carry such statements.
Blaming and accusing media persons in a formal programme will further tarnish personality of the ministers – questions are raised if they are really democratic to listen all’s voices. In democracy, all have the right to speak right or wrong.