9 June 2005

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today welcomed the release of 51 journalists arrested on 8 June whilst protesting against stifling media restrictions.

"It is appalling and unacceptable that people who are simply exercising their rights to free expression have been arrested," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.

However, the IFJ was encouraged to hear that the Nepal Supreme Court ruled in favour of press freedom when it declared the government-ordered closure of radio production centre Communication Corner to be illegal.

"It's about time the media in Nepal had a positive outcome. The court's decision reignites hope that not all is lost in the fight for a free media in Nepal. It encourages other struggling media organisations to keep fighting against media restrictions," said Warren.

The IFJ observed the following developments:

50 journalists arrested during peaceful protest
On Wednesday 8 June 2005, 50 Nepalese journalists were arrested while participating in a peaceful protest against stifling media restrictions.

The arrests occurred in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, as journalists rallied to stop curbs on press freedom imposed by King Gyanendra after he assumed control of the country on 1 February. The rally was organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), and the participants carried banners protesting continuing bans on FM radio stations broadcasting news items.

Police intervened as the journalists approached the royal palace, and the two groups scuffled as journalists tried to break through a police line preventing them from leaving the Bhrikuti Mandap Park. Police officers claimed to be following government orders to prevent the rally passing through restricted areas.

Amoung the detained journalists were key members of the FNJ and organisers of the rally, including president Bishnu Nisthuri, vice president Shiva Gaule, general secretary Mahendra Bista and secretary Balarm Baniya.

On Thursday, 9 June at 9:45am police released the detained journalists after holding them for nearly 18 hours at Madendra Police Club close to the park where they were arrested.

The detained journalists reported there police gave them no reason for their arrest or for their release.

Nepal Supreme Court rules in favour of press freedom
On 7 June 2005, the Nepal Supreme Court ordered the government to allow radio news agency Communication Corner to continue its operations.

The court was responding to a petition filed by the director of Communication Corner, Gopal Guragain, after the government ordered the closure of his company on 27 May.

The court ruled that the government's directive to shut down Communication Corner was illegal given that the company had a valid operating license issued and recently renewed by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Supreme court judges Ram Prasad Shrestha and Rajendra Kumar Bhandari declared the ordered closure "did not meet legal criteria and has caused irreparable loss" to the company.

"The section officer has no right to issue such an order to the company, so it should be allowed to continue with operations within legal parameters," said the judges.

The IFJ is calling on the Nepalese government to recognise the court's decision and allow Communication Corner to continue operating.

The IFJ once again calls on the Nepal government to stop its rampage against media freedom and journalists' rights to freedom of expression.

"The FNJ should be congratulated for its continued and peaceful protests against clampdowns on media freedom. We applaud the journalists' bravery in standing up for the rights they deserve and need to effectively carry out their job," said Warren.

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