July 08, 2005

Nepalese media face unprecedented difficulties as shown by a report by media rights monitoring watchdog

By A CORRESPONDENT

The Nepali media continued to face assaults from both the government and the Maoist rebels in the year 2061 B.S. (mid April 2004- mid April 2005). According to information compiled by the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), a Kathmandu-based press freedom monitoring group, nearly two dozen Nepali journalists were killed over the last six years during the ongoing violence and counter violence and dozens of journalists faced threats, intimidations, physical harassment and were even forced to displace from their work stations.

“Since the royal proclamation on Feb. 1, 2005, all constitutional and legal safeguards available to the media were paralyzed through government directives. Censorship was imposed directly for the first time in the last 15 years and security personnel were stationed in the editorial room and censored all news items, articles,” the press statement from the Center reads.

A total of 28 journalists reported that they were interrogated by security forces and government authorities over the last year (mid-April 2004 until mid-April 2005). Four received death threats. At least 51 journalists who were given three months detention warrants under public security act were released at the initiation of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and human rights groups.

By the end of June 2005, at least two journalists were still behind bars. Journalist Som Sharma, who was abducted by the Maoists nearly six weeks ago, still remains in their captivity,” reads the statement issued on July 2.

The Center has released Nepal Report 2004 and 2005 detailing incidents and accounts of Freedom of Press and Freedom of Expression. The center released the two reports with the financial support from DANIDA.

“The FM radio stations operated by the communities and private sector were the most hit by the government’s decision after February 1. The government banned broadcast of news and news-related programs over FM radio stations for the next six months. As a result, over 1000 journalists working in 47 FM stations all over the country are believed to have been laid off,” the statement reads.

At an interaction program on the situation of freedom of expression organized by CEHURDES on July 2, senior journalists and legal experts condemned the decision of the government to gag the press.

“There are efforts to push the country back to dark ages. All people belonging to an aware and educated community are facing difficulties including the journalists and lawyers,” said Laxman Aryal, former judge of the Supreme Court. He said that the number one problem that has emerged after February 1 is the utter absence of rule of law. “It is a pity that former army generals are now coming out to define constitution.”

President of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bishnu Nishthuri said that the journalists are struggling not only to restore their freedom but also the democracy. “Because we are convinced that in absence of democracy, press freedom cannot flourish. We are not bothered by accusations that we are behaving like sister organizations of political parties when we are engaged in agitation to restore democracy and press freedom,” Nishthuri said.

He charged that while the Maoists were busy destroying private schools outside the valley, the state is bent on trampling upon information flow in the valley. “This leads one to suspect some sort of partnership between them in making the society totally illiterate and uninformed,” he said.

Addressing the program, Pradeep Ghimire, Secretary at the CEHURDES, said that although the state of emergency has been lifted officially, it remains in place so far as press and media sector is concerned. The program was chaired by CEHURDES president Bhagirath Yogi.

The CEHURDES has been publishing annual report detailing the situation of media freedom since last eight years.