ICJ urges government to repeal media ordinance

Kathmandu, Dec 14-In a report released today the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has said that Nepal's Media Ordinance is in violation of Nepal's international human rights obligations and the Nepali Constitution and called on the Government immediately to repeal the Ordinance.

"The Ordinance seeks to provide a legal cover for unlawful practices and restrictions used by the Government to suppress freedom of the media and the right of Nepalis to receive information," said Nicholas Howen, ICJ Secretary-General.

Since its promulgation in October, the Ordinance has been used to justify raids on radio stations, seizure of radio transmission equipment, enforcement of restrictions on broadcasting news and detention and harassment of journalists, the report says.

"Enforcement of the Ordinance will have a chilling effect on the media and lead to greater self-censorship as journalists try to predict when the authorities will try to silence a newspaper or broadcast or close down whole media operations," said Nicholas Howen.

The report released today, Power to silence: Nepal's new Media Ordinance, describes how through the Ordinance the Government is trying to roll back some successes journalists have had in defending their legitimate democratic space to speak and write, including by: prohibiting news broadcasts, suppressing criticism of the Government and discussions in the media that are seen as politically sensitive for the Government, severely limiting access to foreign media and enabling the Government to bar journalists from working professionally.

"The purpose of the Ordinance seems to be to close down critical media, rather than legitimately regulating the media," said Nicholas Howen.The ICJ in the report welcomed the fact that the Supreme Court has issued two interim orders instructing the Government not to enforce aspects of the Ordinance.

The report adds that the ICJ is disturbed by media reports that that the Maoists have violated their 12-Point Understanding with the seven-party alliance by harassing a group of journalists, seizing their media equipment and abducting Ram Dahal, a UNDP programme coordinator, in Taplejung district on 1 December. The ICJ in its report called on the Maoists to take immediate steps to put their commitment to respect human rights and press freedom into action.