Nepal: Capsule Report 19 April 2005



King's grip on Nepalese media tightens



King Gyanendra's grip on the Nepalese media continues to tighten by using a combination of all possible measures to control free expression in Nepal.



"Threats and intimidation are the basis of all the controls used by the Nepalese Government to control the media; summoning editors, regulating press lass, withdrawing advertising funding, arresting or jailing journalists the result is the same - the democratic space in Nepal is becoming a tight squeeze," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.



The IFJ is concerned over the following incidents affecting press freedom in Nepal:



Editors summoned

On 18 April the Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO) summoned two news magazine editors to clarify their news magazines' positions after being accused by the Security Sub-Committee (SMSC) on 1 April of violating the Information and Communication Ministry Order.



Surya Thapa, editor of Budhabar weekly was summoned to the DAO, to explain a cartoon comparing the Nepalese King with the Bhutanese King and a news item titled " Where is the Democracy, Your Majesty?" published on 30 March. This was the seventh time Thapa has been summoned since the 1 February coup.



Rajendra Dahal, editor, Himal Khabara Patrika was summoned for publishing a news analysis piece titled, "National Crisis: Situation and Opportunity."



Government cripples private media

The Government's decision on 7 April to revise its advertising policy so as to only provide advertising to media organisations, which are supportive of "nation, nationalism and the crown", is effectively crippling private media in Nepal.



"The Government is trying to impose an economic blockade on the private media to destroy its existence completely," said Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)'s President, Taranath Dahal at the eighth convention of the Morang branch of the FNJ.



The FNJ estimates that 2,000 journalists have become displaced as a result of the media restrictions put in place since 1 February.



Government control spreads with proposed Press Council amendments

On 1 April the Press Council approved steps for the Government to amend the Press Council Act and bring electronic and broadcast media under the jurisdiction of the Council.



The Press Council amendments will give the King increased regulatory powers to control the media. The proposed changes include a clause empowering the council to investigate and take action against journalists found deviating from their "responsibilities" in light of "the existing values and principles of the state". Another proposed clause gives the Press Council the power to suspend the accreditation of journalists and cease support to media organisations that are not complying with the code of conduct.



Journalists arrested

According to the FNJ more than 60 journalists have been arrested, detained and released since the 1 February coup and nine remain in detention, the nine in detention are: Manohar Pokhrel, editor, Batabaran weekly, Rajbiraj; Arjun Shah, executive editor, Akrosh weekly, Saptari; Anil Tiwari, Ankush daily, Birgunj; Labadev Dhungana, representative of Rajdhani daily and Nepal Television, Panchthar district; Arjun Dhanuk, Avimath weekly, Kanchanpur, Mahendranagar; Sarad Adhikary, representative Channel Nepal, Dang; Surya Thapa, Haank weekly; D.R. Panta, Kantipur daily, Dadeldhura and Robin Poudel, sub-editor of Tanahun Aawaj weekly.



The FNJ is supporting families of journalists who have been jailed or displaced through its emergency fund. The FNJ is providing legal aid and visiting all journalists currently in detention across Nepal. For a full list of detained and arrested journalists see www.ifj-asia.org/nepalcrisis.html.



Editor dies

On 31 March, Khagendra Shrestha, editor and publisher of Dharan Today died from injuries sustained on 15 March when he was shot by a group of unidentified attackers in Shrestha. He was rushed to BP Koirala Institute for Medical Sciences and later taken to Siliguri for treatment where he remained in a coma until his death.



For more information on the crisis in Nepal see www.ifj-asia.org/nepalcrisis.html



For further information contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668.



The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries