Journos march in protest of the government’s letter

August 6, 2005
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Civil Society representative Dr. Mathura Prasad Shrestha addressing a corner meeting after a solidarity rally against government warning to Nepal FM against broadcasting news, at Kalimati, Saturday, Aug 06 05. nepalnews.com/rh

Nearly 150 journalists, rights activists and members of radio listeners’ club marched in the streets of capital, Kathmandu, Saturday protesting the government’s decision to seek clarification from Nepal FM — being operated by the Kathmandu-based Rainbow FM Pvt. Ltd.

Journalists carried a banned that read: Withdraw government’s letter to the Nepal FM. They also carried placards that read: Let independent radio broadcast news, Withdraw all sorts of restrictions upon news and Restore press freedom in the country, among others.

Similarly, placards carried by the members of the Radio Listeners’ Club read: ‘We want news over F M radios,” ‘We are hungry for news,’ etc.

Addressing a corner meeting at Kalimati, senior rights activist Prof. Mathura Prasad Shrestha said it was the constitutional right of the FM radio stations to broadcast news. He said the civil society completely backed the radio broadcasters’ call to resume news in the radio stations.

President of Community Radio Broadcasters’ Association Nepal, Raghu Mainali, said FM radio stations would not give up their fight despite the government’s attempt to encroach upon their rights.

Only last week, the Ministry of Information and Communications had written a letter to Rainbow FM Pvt. Ltd. asking it why it had resumed broadcasting ‘Rajdhani Khabar,’ an information-based programme, despite the government’s ban in broadcasting news from FM radio stations.

Immediately after the royal takeover, the government issued directives asking nearly 50 FM radio stations across the country “not to broadcast anything other than total entertainment” in February this year for a period of six months.

The tenure of the notice expired on Friday but radio broadcasters say the restriction is still in force.

Press freedom watchdogs around the world, including Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters without Borders (RSF) and AMARC have condemned the government’s move to take action against Nepal F M.

In a letter of support, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), has expressed solidarity to Save Independent Radio Movement of Nepal and has appealed the government of Nepal that Community Radio Stations as well as all Independent FM Stations of Nepal be allowed to broadcast news and current affairs programs on any subject of their choice, including political matters.

While visiting the office of the Rainbow FM at Ravi Bhavan in Kathmandu on Friday, members of National Human Rights Commission Sudip Pathak and Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh said they would seek clarification from the government on the issue.