Minister Dhakal warns media, NHRC to study the new ordinance

October 24, 2005
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Minister of Information and Communications, Tanka Dhakal, has warned the Nepali media to strictly obey the new media related ordinance or face consequences.

Addressing an interaction programme organized by ‘Sanchar Samuha Nepal’ in Kathmandu on Monday, minister Dhakal also “requested” friendly countries not to poke their nose into Nepal’s internal matters. “Senior journalists have been detained in powerful countries but we haven’t said any thing. Does it mean that we should also start criticizing them?” he asked.

Minister Dhakal, who is also the government’s spokesperson, was referring to recent statements by India, the British envoy in Kathmandu and director general of UNESCO, among others, expressing concerns about the new Nepali law.

Minister Dhakal also justified the government’s move to raid the Kantipur F M radio station last Friday and seize its equipment. “This shows that this government is active even during the night,” he asserted. He also alleged that Kantipur FM was violating the new law. The leading private sector FM has said it has done nothing illegal and has moved court against the government’s action.

Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said it is “reviewing” the new media ordinance from the human rights perspective. In a statment issued Monday, the Commission said it is also probing on Friday’s incident at the Kantipur FM.