RNA should not run FM stations: Shah

March 11, 2006
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At a time the decision of the government to allow Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) to operate FM stations is getting criticism from all walks of life, former Brigadier General of RNA Dipta Prakash Shah has also objected the RNA’s plan to run FM stations.

Chairman of SAFMA Nepal Chapter, Gopal Thapaliya, said the army’s interest to run FM stations was another step towards curbing free press.

“The army is not anyone’s personal property. There is a clear legal provision about what they can and cannot do,” he said, adding, the RNA’s interest in FM radios is illegal.

Stating that the RNA’s intention behind wanting to run FM stations was not clear, Shah added, “Is it to quell the insurgency, for propaganda purposes, or to strengthen a particular political force?”

If the RNA had good intentions behind airing their activities, they could have bought time from any of the two dozens FM stations running across the country, Shah added.

“To allow the RNA to run FM station in contravention of RNA ACT is to politicise the army,” he further said.

The government had recently decided to let the RNA open FM stations in all five development regions as well as in the capital.

Coordinator of the Save Independent Radio Movement (SIRM) Raghu Mainali said the army wanting to take part in political, economic and logistic spheres of the State was a matter of grave concern to every citizen.

“The plan is yet another conspiracy to dry up the (economic) resources of independent FM stations,” he added.

Chairman of SAFMA Nepal Chapter, Gopal Thapaliya, said the army’s interest to run FM stations was another step towards curbing free press.

Senior journalist Harihar Birahi warned that the government was trying to create monopoly even in FM stations.