(FNJ/IFEX) - In a meeting on 9 May 2006, the Council of Ministers annulled three ordinances - including the controversial media ordinance - promulgated by the former royal government.
Talking to reporters at the Prime Minister's official residence after the cabinet meeting, Minister for Land Reform and Management Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari said the government has decided to scrap or review all the ordinances issued by the earlier government.
State-run Nepal Television said the government has decided to annul the ordinance to amend media related laws, the ordinance related to non-governmental organizations, and the ordinance related to local administration. It said the Council of Ministers has also amended the labor ordinance.
The former royal government issued the media ordinance, amending half-a-dozen media-related laws in order to ban the broadcast of news over FM radio stations and to raise licensing fees for FM radio stations, among other repressive measures.
The current government is also working on rescinding the draconian Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (2002) ordinance; a decision on this may be taken on 10 May.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) had been criticizing the media ordinance and calling for its annulment since its promulgation.
