Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Informal Sector Service Sector (INSEC), a local human rights organization in Nepal, regarding an attack on Kantipur F.M. Station by armed policemen on 21 October 2005.
According to the information we have received, around 40 armed policemen forcibly entered into the Kantipur F.M. Station office at about 11:00pm on October 21 and cut all the office telephone lines and took away 8 sets of equipments used for up-linking the Kantipur F.M.'s Kathmandu Station with the Bhedetar Station in Dhankuta District. Two officials of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) were present during the attack. We have also learned that prior to the attack, those two officials from the MIC attempted to disconnect the satellite link between Kathmandu and Bhedetar stations, producing a letter issued by the Ministry on October 19, which instructed that "all the F.M. stations are requested not to broadcast 'news programme' according to the newly issued government ordinance".
The AHRC is gravely concerned by this serious incident. This is yet another attempt by the Government of Nepal to silent the independent media. On October 9, the Government has already issued a draconian "press ordinance", which resulted in the amendment of 6 laws relating to the media, namely Radio Act 2014 BS, National News Agency Act 2019 BS, Press and Publication Act 2048 BS, Press Council Act 2048 BS and National Broadcasting Act 2049 BS, in the way of enhancing censorship and curbing media.
Since the King claimed absolute power on February 1, state law enforcement agents have carried out numerous human rights abuses such as arbitrary arrest and detention of large numbers of democracy, human rights activists, journalists and students. However, only a fraction of the news on these violations finds its way outside the country due to the Government's censorship. - Asian Rights-
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Informal Sector Service Sector (INSEC), a local human rights organization in Nepal, regarding an attack on Kantipur F.M. Station by armed policemen on 21 October 2005.
According to the information we have received, around 40 armed policemen forcibly entered into the Kantipur F.M. Station office at about 11:00pm on October 21 and cut all the office telephone lines and took away 8 sets of equipments used for up-linking the Kantipur F.M.'s Kathmandu Station with the Bhedetar Station in Dhankuta District. Two officials of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) were present during the attack. We have also learned that prior to the attack, those two officials from the MIC attempted to disconnect the satellite link between Kathmandu and Bhedetar stations, producing a letter issued by the Ministry on October 19, which instructed that "all the F.M. stations are requested not to broadcast 'news programme' according to the newly issued government ordinance".
The AHRC is gravely concerned by this serious incident. This is yet another attempt by the Government of Nepal to silent the independent media. On October 9, the Government has already issued a draconian "press ordinance", which resulted in the amendment of 6 laws relating to the media, namely Radio Act 2014 BS, National News Agency Act 2019 BS, Press and Publication Act 2048 BS, Press Council Act 2048 BS and National Broadcasting Act 2049 BS, in the way of enhancing censorship and curbing media.
Since the King claimed absolute power on February 1, state law enforcement agents have carried out numerous human rights abuses such as arbitrary arrest and detention of large numbers of democracy, human rights activists, journalists and students. However, only a fraction of the news on these violations finds its way outside the country due to the Government's censorship. - Asian Rights-
