Journalists defy the government’s new media decree

As the editor of Kantipur, Nepal’s biggest-selling daily, Narayan Wagle no longer feels intimidated by the royal government’s move to curb press freedom. “Journalists are no longer afraid no matter how hard the government tries to break our spirits. We will continue with the same level of [professionalism] by writing the truth, no matter what it takes,” said Wagle. Hundreds of journalists, lawyers, teachers and citizens took to the streets in the capital, Kathmandu, on Friday to condemn the government’s bid to discipline journalists critical of the king and the government. King Gyanendra sacked the multiparty democratic government on 1 February and has since been ruling the country directly with his own handpicked ministers. The international community has been critical of the government’s attempt to gag Nepal’s media after several journalists were arrested and many newspapers asked to close down for an indefinite period upon the king’s seizure of power. More than 2,000 radio journalists were put out of work when FM stations were barred from airing current affairs and news. The censorship was lifted in April but the FM stations were allowed to broadcast news again only in August after a court battle with the government. Lawyers and journalists claimed the government was again trying to impose restrictions via the new media decree issued on 11 October by the council of ministers, enabling the king to take drastic measures. Under the decree, state authorities could slap heavy fines on publishers and editors for supposedly defamatory articles. Since Wednesday (19 October), the government has been warning through state-run papers such as Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal that action will be taken against those disobeying the ordinance. The Ministry for Information and Communications has told FM radio stations not to broadcast news and current affairs. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have strongly opposed the new media rules and demanded their withdrawal. International media organisations, members of International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal said in a joint statement: “Penalties have increased dramatically, with journalists charged with defamation now facing fines 10 times higher than before and a possible two-year jail term.” On Thursday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Nepal 160th on a world table, even below China. “King Gyanendra is trying to wipe out 15 years of democratic achievement by the independent press with censorship and arrests,” the group said. Journalist Shiva Gaunle, a senior member of the Nepal Federation of Journalists that organised the mass protest in the capital on Friday, said: “Our question to the state is, where has the media gone wrong? Why should the journalists be punished for doing their job professionally?” Lawyers and teachers joined the peaceful street demonstration. “This is a direct violation of the constitution of Nepal,” said lawyer Shambhu Thapa from the Nepal Bar Association. “This is an age of awareness and this ordinance is only a big blow on the citizens whom the government is trying to deprive of their right to information.” Journalists, especially those based outside the capital, are already feeling the pressure of the ordinance, as state authorities have been harassing and intimidating local reporters for some time. Human rights activists are concerned the ordinance will give government officials and security forces more power to threaten journalists. “This step by government shows the autocratic attitude of the government and proves so well that it does not tolerate free media,” said human rights activist and former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Sushil Pyakhurel. He said the ordinance was introduced especially to control media coverage of municipal elections scheduled for February 2006. Pyakhurel also said that despite international pressure on the king not to curb the media, the government had always been ignorant of international concerns.