1 April 2006
PRESS FREEDOM SERIOUSLY DETERIORATING, SAYS INTERNATIONAL MISSION
Press freedom conditions in Nepal have significantly deteriorated in the last eight months, marked by ongoing attacks on journalists and harassment by government authorities and Maoist rebels, an international mission to the country said earlier this week.
The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission visited Nepal from 20 to 25 March 2006, where it met with government officials, independent journalists and editors, and civil society advocates.
Six members of the mission were IFEX members - ARTICLE 19, the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, Reporters sans Frontières, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and the World Press Freedom Committee. A representative of the IFEX Clearing House also accompanied the mission.
The mission was coordinated by International Media Support (IMS) and organised locally by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists in collaboration with 28 Nepalese organisations.
The mission found that continuing attacks on journalists and media outlets are having a devastating affect on independent media. It noted the increasing involvement of the Royal Nepalese Army and armed police forces in committing press freedom and free expression violations.
The mission also said new media laws governing public broadcasting and the regulation of media will further endanger the survival of independent media.
"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 said in a statement.
During the mission, members called on the government to stop the arbitrary detention of journalists. They highlighted the case of Jaya Prakash Gupta, editor of "Sandhyakalin Upatyaka", whom they visited in jail during the mission. Gupta was released from prison soon after the visit.
Members of the mission also met Shyam Shrestha, editor of "Mulyankan" magazine, who is being held in Kathmandu, and Tej Narayan Sapkota, editor of "Yojana Saptahik", who is being detained at Nakkhu Jail.
The visit to Nepal was a follow-up to the mission's first visit to the country in July 2005, which was aimed at coordinating international support for the local media community.
Visit these links:
- International Mission's Statement:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/73192/- Report of the Mission's First Visit to Nepal:
http://tinyurl.com/d65rk- FNJ:
http://www.fnjnepal.org/- IMS:
http://www.i-m-s.dk- Website of the Mission:
http://www.nepalpressfreedom.org/- CEHURDES:
http://www.cehurdes.org.np/- Human Rights Watch Report on Nepal:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/03/28/nepal13078.htm- U.N. Human Rights Office in Nepal:
http://www.un.org.np/uploads/agencyprofiles/ohchr/ohchr.php?agencyID=63