The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision of King Gyanendra on 1 February to sack the Nepalese government, declare a state of emergency and impose censorship on the country’s media.
In a recent incident, on 23 February, the Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO) summoned the editors of five weekly newspapers, seeking clarification on why they had left the editorial space on their newspapers blank.
Those summoned to the DAO were Rajendra Baidhya, chief editor of Bimarsha; Kabir Rana, chief editor of Deshantar; Gopal Budhathoki, publisher and editor of Sanghu; Nawaraj Timilsina, editor of Prakash; and Shashidhar Bhandari, editor of Hank.
The editors were questioned by officials from the Chief District Office, a powerful body in charge of all security issues in the Kathmandu Valley. “The press too should act in a disciplined and responsible manner in this time of emergency,” Chief District Officer Baman Prasad Neupane told the media.
After questioning Baidhya and Rana, the authorities told them to present themselves at the DAO whenever asked. Budhathoki, Timilsina and Bhandari were asked to return to the DAO to face questioning on the following day.
The move came after a long period of political turmoil in the fight between Nepal’s government and Maoist rebels.
Six journalists have been put in detention since the King’s takeover, including the general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Bishnu Nisthuri.
In a meeting on 14 February, members of IPI’s Nepal National Committee issued a three point statement, urging the government to withdraw all forms of censorship upon media, demanding the immediate release of FNJ general secretary, Bishnu Nisthuri, and all other journalists currently in detention, and asking the government to ensure press freedom and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the country’s constitution.
“The IPI, with over 2,000 members around the world, fully supports the fight of its colleagues in Nepal and urges national and international institutions to do everything in their power to put pressure on the King of Nepal to restore democracy,” said IPI Director Johann P. Fritz.
Fritz added, “Given the assault on editorial freedom, IPI will discuss placing Nepal on the IPI Watch List at its next board meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21 May 2005.”