6 June 2005

Nepalese journalists took to Kathmandu's streets on Sunday, 5 June 2005 to protest the latest round of media restrictions and attacks against the media and journalists in Nepal.

"The increasing number of violent attacks against the Nepalese media coupled with harassment, threats and newly introduced media restrictions are combing to silence Nepalese journalists by instilling them with fear," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.

Despite the escalating attacks, harassment and government imposed media restrictions the Nepalese media have united in protest calling for a restoration of democracy and freedom of the press.

"The courage and solidarity shown by Nepalese journalists and the media community is commendable and we, the international journalism community must not forget the daily sacrifices made in Nepal in the name of democracy and freedom of expression," said Warren.

The IFJ observed the following developments:

Armed CPN - Maoists destroy Telecom tower
On June 3, 2005 armed CPN - Maoists destroyed the repeater tower of the Nepal Telecom Company by detonating a pipe bomb explosion.

The explosion occurred late at night at the Chhinchu tower in the mid-west district of Surkhet. The 180-line telephone exchange has been completely annihilated and local journalists are now without the phone and fax services they so heavily rely on for disseminating news.

Journalists take to the streets
On June 5, 2005 over 200 Nepali journalists peacefully protested against media restrictions in the streets of Kathmandu. The rally was organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), and the participants carried banners with slogans against harsh new media restrictions under King Gyanendra's February 1 state of emergency.

FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri, former FNJ president Tara Nath Dahal and senior journalists addressed the gathering, warning of intensified protests against the government's plan to introduce stricter media laws. Similar protest rallies took place in Bhairahawa, Chitawan, Pokhara and Biratnagar.

On June 4, journalists in Palpa told King Gyanendra that the state of press freedom was "sorrowful". The King and Queen were visiting temples in Western Nepal when they were confronted by the group of six journalists, led by president of the FNJ Palpa branch, Jhapendra Gaire.

Journalists fight FM radio restrictions
The Nepalese Supreme Court has ordered the government to provide a written explanation for its directive on May 27 to shut down radio program production centre Communication Corner.

The radio company, which produces daily news programming for over 10 FM stations throughout Nepal, was forced into closure under government crackdowns on FM radio stations broadcasting news items.

Director of Communication Corner, Gopal Guragain, lodged a legal challenge with the Supreme Court on May 30, claiming the government's ban was an illegal effort to restrain press freedom in Nepal. He has asked the court to allow Communication Corner to continue to operate, claiming the company has not broken any laws and its license and taxes are in order.

On June 1, a group of radio journalists under the umbrella name Save Independent Radio Movement mailed a damaged radio and a copy of Nepal's constitution to Information Minister Tanka Dahal. The protest came on day four of a planned seven-day protest against tightening media restrictions for FM radio stations.

Editor detained
On June 2, 2005, the Sunsari district court of Eastern Nepal detained Janamat editor Salikram Pandey for the day. Despite being held in the court for the day, he was not questioned about his journalism. President of the FNJ, Bishnu Nisthuri, said the detainment was aimed at harassing journalists.

The IFJ believes tight media restrictions, such as those proposed by the Nepalese Government, prevent journalists from doing their jobs and severely hamper the ability of the media to hold the government accountable.

IFJ president Chrsitopher Warren said, "With daily reports of stricter media restrictions, violent attacks and journalists' arrests, free expression and democracy in Nepal grow weaker."

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