The International Mission for Press Freedom and Free Expression in Nepal has condemned what it called the persistent repression of the media and increasing crackdown on freedom of expression since the royal takeover on 1 February 2005.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday as the direct rule of His Majesty King Gyanendra is to complete first year, the mission said Nepal’s journalists have been confronted with an autocratic regime for the past 365 days. During this period, the independent press has lost most of its legal and constitutional protection it had acquired since 1990. More than a thousand journalists have lost their jobs and the government-induced economic pressure has increased on many media companies, the statement added.

The International Mission has registered at least 273 cases of arrests of journalists and 147 cases of physical attacks and threats towards the press from all parties involved in the conflict, the statement said.

In addition, there have been 569 cases of press censorship. Over the last few weeks, the Nepal government has arrested more than 100 political leaders, civil society activists and journalists, imposed a curfew, restricted communications and placed a ban on demonstrations within the capital city, the statement added.

“Media censorship has increased, including an embargo on Indian newspapers and TV channels, the mission said. “In addition to direct attacks on media personnel by the conflicting parties, the government has introduced a series of laws, ordinances and regulations since February 1, 2005 which have dramatically restricted freedom of expression and changed the regulatory environment for the print, broadcast and online media,” the joint statement said.

The International Mission said it was particularly alarmed by recent reports of a draft Broadcasting Authority Ordinance which has not yet been made public by the Government.

”The creation of a regulatory authority is positive in principle, but we are concerned by the composition of this proposed body and certain aspects of this draft legislation (especially the excessive increase in the fee for a radio station license, which would seriously hamper the electronic media, especially the independent and community radio stations).’This Broadcasting Authority Ordinance, if enacted, is in violation of the Government’s obligations under international laws as well as Nepal’s own Constitution,” the statement said.

The International Mission applauded what it called the extraordinary mobilisation of the country’s journalists and media. It has enabled them to win back, in the courts, some of the rights that were taken away by the government. However, the mission’s member organisations are also extremely concerned about the resumption of fighting in Nepal following the end of the cease-fire by the Maoist insurgents in 2005, the statement said.

”We fear that media professionals will again come under attack from all sides of the conflict, especially at the district and rural levels. We stress that journalists are protected in wartime by the Geneva Conventions,” the statement added.

The International Mission has urged the royal government to respect its national and international obligations, uphold freedom of expression and the rights of the media by lifting all repressive laws and ordinances.

”We ask for the immediate release of all journalists and human rights activists currently detained, and an end to the ban on demonstrations, imposed recently,” the statement said.

Due to continuing deterioration in press freedom and freedom of expression situation, the International Mission would conduct a follow-up mission to Nepal in March 2006 to continue dialogue with the country’s media and the authorities, the statement said.

The mission had first visited Nepal in July last year.

The members of the mission include Committee to Protect Journalists, FreeVoice, International Federation of Journalists, International Media Support, International Press Institute, Press Institute of India , Reporters Without Borders, South Asian Free Media Association, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters – AMARC, World Association of Newspapers and World Press Freedom Committee. Nepali authorities are yet to comment on the latest statement by the international press freedom mission. They, however, claim that Nepali media is one of the freest in the world.