19 May 2005

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned that if continued, media restrictions in Nepal will silence all independent voices.

"The combination of financial restrictions, continuing censorship, intimidation, arrests and violence are resulting in the voices of journalists and media houses being silenced," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.

"Every media house forced to close provides one less voice in the media landscape and another handful of journalists joining the already 1,000 long unemployment queue," said Warren.

The IFJ is concerned over the following in incidents in Nepal:

Television tower attacked
At 9:15am on Wednesday 18 May, Maoist militants allegedly detonated a bomb at the state-owned Nepal Television (NTV) transmission tower in Tansen, Palpa district, in western Nepal.

The building, erected on Sreenagar Hill, was damaged along with the transmitters and other equipment after the Maoists overcame security guards.

No one was injured in the attack. The damage, however, has halted all tower transmissions to the districts of Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi and Syangja, depriving more than 1.5 million people of news and other programming.

Newspaper publisher questioned
On 19 May, chief of Lalitpur district in suburban Kathmandu Sthaneswor Devkota summoned Kanakmani Dixit, publisher of Himal Magazine, to answer questions and submit written clarification regarding articles critical of King Gyanendra.

The articles published in April advocated a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, as stipulated in the Nepalese constitution.

"The summons is an attempt by the state to harass the media into silence," said Warren. Dixit was released from questioning.

News restrictions continue in radio and print
On 12 May, all radio stations in Kathmandu received a letter informing them that the newly government appointed regional administrators would continue enforcing the ban of news and current affairs broadcast on radio.

The print media restrictions introduced on 2 February have been continued by a clause invoked by the Ministry of Information and Communication, banning critical articles against the "letter and spirit" of the royal speech and anything that could support terrorists and terrorism for a period of six months.

Private media face financial problems
The IFJ fears a complete silencing of all non-government owned and controlled media outlets outside of Katmandu due to newspapers, periodicals and magazines published outside of Kathmandu facing critical financial problems after the withdrawal of government subsidies and advertising.

The government stopped providing advertising to private media houses, after all District Administration offices received a notice instructing them to do so. In addition the government has ceased the lump sum subsidy to all private newspapers, used by previous governments to encourage a thriving private media.

Newspapers close
On 17 May, Shyam Hari Adhikari, editor of the weekly Sindhuli Times, announced he was stopping its publication due to financial difficulties caused by government withdrawal of advertising and subsidies.

It is believed the all media houses in Sinhuli, headquarters for the eastern hilly district, will soon be closed due to lack of financial support. In Gulimi district in western Nepal, three newspapers remain out of operation since the February 1 Coup.

The editors of the weeklies Sajha Bichar, Gulmi Times and Resunga Shikhar Sandesh have yet to reopen their newspapers, despite King Gyanendra lifting the state of emergency on 9 May, due to the continued censorship. The editors claim an inability to provide accurate information to their readers for their papers closure.

Journalist abducted
The IFJ continues to fear for the safety of Aankha newspaper journalist, Som Sharma, abducted on 16 May from his rented residence in Mangalbare Bazare, Ilam district, in eastern Nepal.

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has alleged CPN-Maoists' involvement in the abduction. However, the CPN-Maoists have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

The IFJ supports the FNJ's support call to make public the whereabouts of Sharma; to release him immediately, unconditionally and without harming him.

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