Nepal’s media under attack
By Bashudev Baskota

Radio Sagarmatha, the first community radio station in South Asia and the vanguard of media freedom in Nepal became the latest media organisation to come under fire by the government when government officials raided its premises, looted broadcast equipment and arrested four journalists for simply trying to re broadcast the BBC news.

Under constant threat has been increased since the Royal take over of executive power in February. King Gynandra sacked the country’s prime minister and took over executive power blaming the government of not doing enough to counter the Maoist insurgency that has taken over 12,000 lives in this landlocked Himalayan kingdom.

Journalists have been at the centre of criticism and attacks in the wake of political instability in this tiny mountainous nation, which is suffering from a power struggle between the Palace and the Maoist rebels, who are demanding a Communist state.

Armed guards were stationed at Kathmandu print and broadcast media organisations in February and material to be printed or broadcast were screened by officials who took harsh action against journalists who countered or challenged the Royal takeover.

The Nepali media, which has been covering the Maoist insurgency for the past decade thus started making international news with journalists resorting to clever means like using metaphors to attack the monarch and escape official gate-keeping.

Nevertheless, the past 10 months have been a particularly trying period for Nepali journalism. It is estimated that about half of all newspapers publishing prior to the coup have closed now and that those that remain have been significantly reduced in size. A report by the International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression mission to Nepal in July, suggests that many media organisations are financially vulnerable due to cuts in advertising and censorship and may not survive for long.

According to the Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2005 published by Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), two journalists were killed, 13 kidnapped, more than 400 journalists arrested or imprisoned by the security forces and 76 journalists physically injured in Nepal last year. The report also holds the Maoists responsible for harassing over 30 journalists.

Imprisonment and house arrest have become common occurrences in Nepal, where there is a strong opposition to autocratic rule despite attempts by King Gynandra to smear his critics as criminals and disregard their voices.

Journalists, in trying to do their jobs, are caught in the middle; vulnerable to attack from both sides of the conflict. More than four journalists have been killed by the Maoists on accusations of spying for the government. The government too has killed journalists for allegedly supporting the Maoists.

The growing violence against journalists has prompted an outcry from civil society, the international press and respected media organisations. However, the government strengthened its position by introducing new laws restricting the free press in October.

The new legislation has the right to impose fines on publishers and editors as well as ban them from publishing material "deemed helpful to terrorists."

Radio stations were banned from broadcasting "news-oriented" programmes under the new laws but the courts issued a temporary order permitting the broadcast of news following petitions by media organisations. Despite massive protest and representations by media organisations, however, the Supreme Court denied legal attempts to block these restrictions on the media.

Looking at recent events, it is obvious that the Nepalese government will continue to repress the media and shun its voice. Presence of armed guards at media organisations, looting, raids, attacks on journalists, kidnapping and arrest are an indication of the hardships to follow. And it is clear that the government will resort to any action that would pave the way for shunning the voice of independent media institutions around the country.

The recent political developments in Kathmandu also do not augur well for the media. Democratic parties, including the Nepali Congress, which is the largest political party in the country, have agreed to a coalition with the Maoists in an attempt to oust the monarchy and elect a Constituent Assembly.

The news of a new Constitution, which will hand over sovereignty to the people and keep the army under the control of Parliament, seems to have convinced the King that the ongoing conflict can only be solved through war.

In a conflict that will label anyone opposing the government as "terrorists," it is certain that the media, which is at one of the most critical junctures in its history, caught in the ongoing conflict between Maoist rebels and armed forces on the one hand and the King’s attempts at autocratic rule on the other, will come under attack more than ever.