09/01/2005
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Until February 1, 2005, the Nepalese media had made notable progress and were
among the most diverse in Asia, but they have taken a terrible hit from King Gyanendra.
In one single day, he sacked the government, suspended all civil rights, and
razed the very foundations of the press. All communications were directly affected
by the declaration of a state of emergency—it was not lifted until April 29th—and the censorship of every form of expression. The information is contained
in a report published in July 2005 by the 'International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression
Mission to Nepal.' The principal international organizations for the rights of
journalists collaborated on the report.
Hundreds in the streets. The combined forces of the journalism community, students and opposition politicians,
who have engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout the country for the reinstitution
of fundamental rights, have availed but little. The new government—proclaimed
by the king and composed of ten of his super loyalists—has ordered the suppression
of every demonstration and the arrest of dozens of individuals. Until last April
only eleven journalists were being detained. Today it is difficult to say how
many demonstrators are still behind bars because they disobeyed the king’s regulations.
The gagged radio and the isolated countryside. From the report: “FM and community radio in Nepal has to date been a leader
in the field of community broadcasting in South Asia. However, contrary to the
Constitution, the Supreme Court decisions and national legislation guaranteeing
press freedom and freedom of expression, radio stations in Nepal are currently
under a de-facto ban for broadcasting news. . . . This ban in Nepal is depriving
the population of free access to information, threatening the financial viability
of FM and community radio, as well as causing large-scale unemployment for radio
journalists and broadcasters.
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Destruction of the media by royal operatives in the Himalayan kingdom
Until February 1, 2005, the Nepalese media had made notable progress and were
among the most diverse in Asia, but they have taken a terrible hit from King Gyanendra.
In one single day, he sacked the government, suspended all civil rights, and
razed the very foundations of the press. All communications were directly affected
by the declaration of a state of emergency—it was not lifted until April 29th—and the censorship of every form of expression. The information is contained
in a report published in July 2005 by the 'International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression
Mission to Nepal.' The principal international organizations for the rights of
journalists collaborated on the report.
Tools for democracy. During the last seven months in Nepal attacks on communications workers—and
on all political dissidents in general—have been increasing day by day, This
is a departure from what had been, in many ways, a strong current of progress.
“During the past decade and a half,” according to the report, “the media in Nepal
has played an integral part in promoting peace, democracy, development and good
governance. However, since the state of emergency was imposed in the country on
1 February 2005—and despite the fact that it was subsequently lifted on 29 April
2005—the press freedom and freedom of expression situation in the country has
continued to deteriorate.”
Hundreds in the streets. The combined forces of the journalism community, students and opposition politicians,
who have engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout the country for the reinstitution
of fundamental rights, have availed but little. The new government—proclaimed
by the king and composed of ten of his super loyalists—has ordered the suppression
of every demonstration and the arrest of dozens of individuals. Until last April
only eleven journalists were being detained. Today it is difficult to say how
many demonstrators are still behind bars because they disobeyed the king’s regulations.War and uncertainty. Recently, in this Himalayan kingdom, the conflict between the royal Nepalese
army and the Maoist guerillas has heated up. Since 1983 they have been fighting
to overturn the monarchy and install a communist republic. Almost every day there
are victims on both sides, and civilians, too. Neither side regards with favor
anyone who attempts to report on the war. The report states: “Media practitioners
and freedom of expression advocates across the country continue to be subject
to killings, violent attacks, intimidation, harassment and displacement by both
the government and the Maoists. Moreover, media practitioners and others continue
to ‘disappear’ or be detained and imprisoned for the free expression of their
opinions.”
Violations of law. These abuses are committed with total impunity and in violation of Nepal’s
own laws as well as the international treaties the country is a party to. The
constitution, ratified in 1990, is based on international norms and standards,
and provides for the restoration of civil liberties and fundamental rights at
the close of a state of emergency. But the new Executive Directorate has introduced
the possibility of modifying the present legislation in alarming directions.
After February first, members of the army have carefully examined every publication
and controlled broadcasts word by word. Every kind of censorship, direct and
indirect, has become a part of the process.
The gagged radio and the isolated countryside. From the report: “FM and community radio in Nepal has to date been a leader
in the field of community broadcasting in South Asia. However, contrary to the
Constitution, the Supreme Court decisions and national legislation guaranteeing
press freedom and freedom of expression, radio stations in Nepal are currently
under a de-facto ban for broadcasting news. . . . This ban in Nepal is depriving
the population of free access to information, threatening the financial viability
of FM and community radio, as well as causing large-scale unemployment for radio
journalists and broadcasters. “The conditions faced by the local media in districts across the country are
particularly harsh. Whilst all of the media community has been subject to killings,
attacks, disappearances, intimidation, harassment, detention and displacement,
this has been particularly severe in areas outside of the Kathmandu Valley. In
such locations the media often finds itself caught between the combatant parties
and under pressure to censor or alter the content of despatches and reports so
that it is perceived to be more favourable to one side or the other. Moreover,
media facilities and infrastructures are more vulnerable to being shut down, deliberately
damaged or removed by one of the combatant sides. The recent emergence of armed
"vigilante groups" in certain districts also poses a serious threat to media practitioners
and freedom of expression advocates, as well as press freedoms and freedom of
expression in general.”
Francesca Lancini
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