Media in Nepal after February 1, 2005

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Media in Nepal after February 1, 2005

• Rajendra Dahal

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Key issues

• Continuous harassment
• Intimidation through Department of Information,
  public policy (advertising) and threats of
  changes in law
• Promotion of pro-government media using public
  funds and control over private advertising
• Violation of law

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Harassment

• Direct threats (from CDOs, security agencies)
• Detentions/ arrests especially in the districts
• Threats through compliant employers
• Threats through pro-government groups
• Maoist threats (though reduced in terms of
  frequency)

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Intimidation through policy

• Through discriminatory ABC categorization
• Discriminatory one-window policy for public
  advertisements to be given only to papers
  supportive of nation, nationalism and
  institution of monarchy
• New media ordinance (October 9, 2005)
• Threats of making the law more stringent
• Government plans to set up a Media Council to
  increase control over all media forms, including
  broadcasting and on-line journalism
• Broadcasting Authority Ordinance

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Economic issues

• Selective public support to pro-government media
• Rampant misuse of public funds to bankroll
  selective media
• Indirect controls of private advertising in
  pro-democracy press
• Introduction of Conditional Access System (CAS)
  to control satellite TV

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Economic issues (local)

• Control over ads at the local level - those
  provided by DDCs, VDCs, other government bodies
• Indirect controls of private advertising in
  pro-democracy press
• Increase in postal rates for newspapers (from 10
  p to Rs1)

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Tirade against free media

• Public allegations by government ministers
• Selective access to information
• Attempts to undermine unity of journalists by
  supporting new pro-government groups

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Control on media content

• Government control over media content (Difficulty
  in getting approval of scripts) (This form of
  censorship extends to TV programs, films and
  advertising content)
• Official media given a free hand to chastise the
  political parties and spread disinformation (news
  on radio)

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Violation of law

• Using ordinance to amend laws contrary to
  Constitutional provisions (Press Ordinance)
• Threats to freedom of information and the
  publics right to be informed (interim SC order)
• Disregard of court decision
• Defamation applicable only to the media
  (pro-government media have freedom to chastise
  the parties)

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Communications/ Internet

• Blocking of certain websites
• Cutting off V-Sat connections to media indirectly
  by threatening the ISPs
• Government has resorted to cutting off telephone
  lines/mobiles at whim
• Issue of access to information to on-line
  reporters (Press passes not issued)

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Conclusion

• Nepali media has managed to continuously stretch
  the envelope and create elbow room for itself
• The examples of some media used by government to
  show there is press freedom in Nepal, is not
  freedom but continuous attempts by the media to
  make itself heard

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Tools/techniques

• Documentary research and use of public and
  private records, following the paper trail.
• A good reporter sees the forest for the trees.

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Conclusions

• Need for continuous monitoring of media freedoms
  and support to continuous research on media
  situation.
• Need for support to journalists in difficult
  circumstances (including displaced journalists).
• Need for continuous training/discussion on
  Freedom of Information issues.

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Thank you