Journalist Unions Protest Continued Intimidation of
Media Persons and Curtailment of Press Freedom in Nepal
At a meeting in Bangalore organized by the International Federation of Journalists, representatives and office bearers of journalist unions including the All India Newspaper Employees’ Federation, the Indian Journalists’ Union and the National Union of Journalists, India, expressed their deep concern about the safety of journalists in Nepal today after it was confirmed that King Gyanendra has ordered a complete black out of all media outside the Kathmandu Valley. The representatives strongly condemned the curbing of press freedom and the attempts by the security forces to intimidate and harass senior journalists in Nepal, in particular leaders of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ).
According to reports, security personnel told media houses to shut down, “until further notice” in Pokhara, 200 km west of Kathmandu. It has been reported that all the private media houses are now being run by military personnel since the imposition of emegency. There are reports of army majors dictating to editors what to include in editorials in Jan Ashta.
All the FM stations outside the Kathmandu valley have been closed down. Radio Sagarmatha, the first community radio station in South Asia, is now being run by the Royal Nepal Army. It has banned any news, discussion or regular programs from broadcast.
The local administration and army battalion head quarters of Rupandehi district in Western Nepal have ordered Butawal F.M and Lumbini F.M to stop broadcasting and have ordered Mechi Kali, Daily Lumbini, Jana Sangharsa and Naya Disha to discontinue publishing. Khagendra Sangraula, prominent columnist of Kantipur daily has been arrested and is being detained at the Armed Police Head Quarters in Halchowk, Kathmandu, for his previous critical articles against an active monarchy.
All communication lines into and within the country remain cut off, as the military has taken charge of all internet-service providers and the two companies providing telephone and communication services, Nepal Telecom and UTL.
Representatives at the meeting extended their solidarity to their journalist colleagues in Nepal and called upon the King to immediately restore multi party democracy and basic civil rights. As a mark of protest against the high handed actions of the King, representatives at the meeting affirmed that they would wear black badges, and organize nation-wide protest actions against the crackdown on the media and assault on press freedom and other fundamental rights in Nepal.
All India Newspaper Employees’ Federation
Indian Journalists’ Union
National Union of Journalists, India,
Click here to view the media release online:http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/nepal_india050205.html
Click here for more information on the crisis in Nepal: http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/nepalcrisis.html
