15 November 2005

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the supreme court’s failure, at a hearing on 11 November, to block all of the repressive measures the government has adopted against the Nepalese media including a 9 October ordinance banning independent radio news broadcasts.

The stance taken by the court confirms the lack of judicial independence and will have disastrous consequences for the news media, the press freedom organisation said.

“We deplore the supreme court’s ruling and we call on the government to repeal the 9 October ordinance and rescind all of the other draconian measures taken against the press since King Gyanendra’s power grab in February,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“We point out that the king himself said he wanted to restore democracy at the South Asia summit on 12 November and we urge him to keep his promises,” the organisation added.

The supreme court hearing was held in response to a petition by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, the Nepalese Bar Association and other professional groups. By refusing to block the ordinance, the court has given it the force of law and has indirectly given a green light to press censorship, in violation of constitutional rights.

The ordinance imposes drastic new curbs on the Nepalese media including a ban on news programmes on independent radio stations. Radio Kantipur FM 96.1 immediately suspended its news broadcasts in response.

“Street demonstrations are our last resort,” said Narayan Wagle, the editor of one of Nepal’s most popular newspapers. “The supreme court’s decision has dashed all of the journalists’ hopes.” More than 200 lawyers wearing black armbands protested outside the supreme court building on 13 November.

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