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Alert

International mission to Nepal finds press freedom situation "significantly deteriorated"

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 March 2006 IFJ media release:

Mission Statement by International Organisations
International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal

25 March 2006

The press freedom situation in Nepal has significantly deteriorated in the last eight months, according to the 'International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission' which completed its week-long mission today.

The mission found that the continuing military and civil authorities' harassment, attacks and detention of media professionals, and seizure of equipment, particularly in the districts, is having a devastating affect on independent media. Journalists are also under attack from Maoists, particularly since the ceasefire withdrawal in January.

Of particular concern is the increasing involvement of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and armed police forces in press freedom and freedom of expression violations, as well as interference in the media sphere.

Proposals for a broadcasting authority and the creation of an unrepresentative media council through new media ordinances, in contradiction to the principles of the 1990 Constitution, will further endanger the survival of the independent media.

Government pressure on the economic base of independent media has intensified with the discriminatory 'one-door advertisement policy' leading to closures and significant job losses.

The Minister of Information's interference in the development of a rival journalists' organisation, and the dismissal of state media practitioners for refusing to join are unacceptable violations of the right to free association, according to the mission, who expressed their support for the critical role of the representative Federation of Nepalese Journalists, which has been leading the campaign for the restoration of press freedom and democracy.

The refusal of the government to respect freedom of expression and press freedom erodes 15 years of development for the media community in Nepal, undermining democratic and economic progress and the chances for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the country.

The mission released its findings and recommendations at a press conference in Kathmandu today.

The twelve international organisations participating in the mission included:

ARTICLE 19
Free Voice
International Federation of Journalists
International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House - IFEX-CH
International Media Support
International News Safety Institute
International Press Institute
Reporters sans frontières
South Asia Press Commission
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation - UNESCO
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters - AMARC
World Press Freedom Committee

Three other international organisations, which participated in the July 2005 mission, are supporting the return mission in March 2006. These organisations include:

Committee to Protect Journalists
Press Institute of India
World Association of Newspaper

The mission has been organised in collaboration with twenty-eight local organisations, institutes and networks in Nepal.