ARTICLE 19 condemns the recent promulgation of an Ordinance by King Gyanendra, which ushers in further draconian measures against an already tightly controlled media. The new ordinance constitutes yet another move towards muzzling independent voices in the country, and granting the Monarchy absolute power, a process initiated in February when the King declared a state of emergency.
The Ordinance contains a number of provisions to amend existing media laws, in order to introduce strict controls over the publication and broadcast of materials and ownership of the media, as well as harsher penalties for anyone contravening these laws.
Specifically, the controversial Ordinance prohibits an organization or individual from receiving licenses to operate radio, television and newspapers. Those who have already been granted licenses to operate all three media previously are now limited to choosing any two forms within a year.
Other provisions ban the importing of foreign publications that contain prohibited information and bars FM stations from broadcasting news-related programmes. These stations will be limited to airing "informative" programmes on health, education, weather, road and transport conditions and other similar development topics, thus stifling the free flow of information and ideas on news items that directly affect the population.
ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned that the penalties breaching these laws have been increased largely ten-fold. In particular, ARTICLE 19 is gravely concerned that the penalty for criminal defamation includes a fine of up to 500,000 Rupees (approximately 7,000 U.S. dollars) and/or two years imprisonment.
ARTICLE 19 considers that the provisions contained in the Ordinance breach international human rights law, and urges the King to repeal the Ordinance and to take urgent and effective measures to safeguard freedom of expression and information in the country.
ARTICLE 19 calls upon the international community, and in particular the governments of the United States, India, United Kingdom and the European Union to express their complete condemnation of these curbs on the media and to intensify their efforts to encourage the reinstatement of free and independent media in Nepal.
