After monitoring the seven
districts, and interaction with the local journalists, the
team found that all the local newspapers, FM stations and
media houses have been adversely affected since royal takeover.
Eventually local media persons have suffered. They are not
allowed to publish what they report. Instruction of security
personnel and obstructions in news sources are common problems
to all local journalists.
Readers and listeners have been deprived
of objective and factual information due to the inactivity
of free and independent media. Similarly, the media houses
have lost their credibility and popularity.
At the same time, they are facing financial
crisis. Ultimately, hundreds of journalists have lost their
jobs. More disappointing fact is that after being fired from
the media houses they abandoned this profession.
The seven districts are Kaski, Parbat, Myagdi,
Baglung, Palpa, Gulmi and Rupendehi
The SAFMA- FNJ monitoring team comprised:
Harihar Birahi, former president of FNJ, coordinator and members
Mahendra Bista, central secretary of FNJ; Babita Basnet, joint
secretary of SAFMA Nepal; Hemant Kafle, central member of
FNJ; and Nava Raj Chalise, central member of SAFMA Nepal.
District Wise Situation
Kaski
Number of journalists: 125
FM stations: 4: Annapurna, Macchapuchhre, Pokhara and Himchuli,
Daily newspapers: 4: Adarsh Samaj, Pokharapatra, Pokhara Hotline
and Samadhan
- After February 19, army personnel were deployed in the
newspaper offices for five days.
- Army personnel deployed in FM stations closed FM stations
for three days.
- Information was directly inspected.
- Newspapers resumed after five days.
- Editor of Samadhan Dainik, Narayan Karki and local reporter
of Kantipur daily Kul Chandra Neupane were summoned by
the local administration regarding the news published
in their respective publications.
- Police snatched cameras from Tribhuvan Paudel of Hotline
and FNJ central member Suman Dahal.
- On Peoples' Movement Day (April 8), police personnel
beat up a photographer of Annapurna Post, Krishnahari
Baral. On the same day, the police arrested journalist
Shova Kant Sigdel, but released him after half an hour.
Both of them were beaten while reporting on political
parties' demonstrations.
- The army personnel and administration often threaten
journalists.
- Editor of Hotline, Madhav Sharma, was warned by the
administration about a news story.Though passing through
tough time, including receiving regular threats and pressure
to publish and not to publish news from police and army
personnel, the media workers were mostly guided by self-censorship.
- Two dozens journalists, who were working in the news
room of FM stations, have been displaced by the media
houses.
- The trend of hiding information is increasing.
- Indirect inspection of media houses is still continuing.
Comments
- "Dozens of incidents of human rights violations
have been taking place, but they are not reflected in
the media" says human rights activist, Teknath Baral.
- News-based programmes and talk programmes, which were
quite popular in FM stations, have been banned. The displaced
journalists are uncertain.
Advertisements
After the government decision
to ban government advertisements, local FM stations and newspapers
are facing serious financial crisis.
News Source
Discrimination in disseminating information
only to favoured newspapers has disappointed independent journalists.
The popularity and credibility of media is in doubt. "There
is no compulsion to abide by the government orders,"
claims Chief District Officer, Krishna Prasad Lamsal.
Rupendehi
Number of journalists: 96
Newspapers: Five dailies, two weeklies
FM Radio: 4: Radio Lumbini, Butwal FM, Tinahu FM and Rupendehi
FM
- Order: After February 1, there was a notice to close
newspapers till the next order.
- Newspapers remained closed for five days.
- On the ninth day of the royal proclamation, a meeting
was held between journalists and security officers.
- Strict order was given not to publish anything that
may cause trouble to the security personnel. They even
could not publish anything about the Palpa incident.
- The popular dailies in Butwal, Jana Sangharsa Butwal
Daily and Dainik Lumbini were attacked by gangsters. Media
persons claimed that the administration backed the gangsters.
- 60-70 journalists have lost their jobs directly due
to the royal step.
- Journalists were forcibly sacked by the FM stations.
- Army personnel strictly inspected the FM radios.
- FM news was stopped by army.
- The transmission of FM stations was totally stopped
for some hours by the intervention and order of army personnel.
- FM journalists said, “FM has been like an orphan.
Without news, it has become like one without heart. They
are still popular among the people, but there is a tough
challenge to maintain that. FM owners are found harsh
towards journalists. Management was quick to kick them
out.
- Army personnel keep on inspecting photojournalists strictly.
Censorship, snatching cameras and reel are a common phenomenon.It
was compulsory to visit army barrack before composing
news.
- It was compulsory to visit army barrack before composing
news.
- For some days FM stations aired only songs. Even the
programmes on social subjects were stopped. Though light
discussions were resumed after some time.
- During the Bandh (closure) days, army personnel pressurized
the journalists to publish/broadcast photographs of vehicles.
- The free movement of journalists was also restricted.
- Journalists felt insecure because of army spying.
- News sources have been blocked. The obstructions in
news source are another form of censorship.
Comments
People, who were enthusiastic to listen FM
stations, have abandoned FM radios due to the lack of news.
Advertisement
After the closure of news programmes, more
than 50 per cent advertisement has been cut. Almost all journalists
working in news section have been displaced.
- Journalists working with local FM stations are angry
with FM management.
- Direct as well as indirect inspection of administration
is continuing.
Palpa
Newspapers: Nava Chetana and Gaunle Deurali
FM stations: Madan Pokhara, Paschimanchal, Muktinath and Shrinagar
- Army personnel entered into the FM stations even before
ending the announcement of royal proclamation on February
1 concluded.
- The transmission of FM stations was totally stopped
for three consecutive days after February 1. The military
orders and inspection have made the journalists' life
tougher. Showing various causes, media persons have been
sacked.
- Weekly newspapers remained closed for two weeks..
Comments
- Journalists expect hard days ahead.
- Journalists are compelled to write news stories as per
the government's instruction.
- Four dozen journalists working for FM radios have lost
their jobs.
- Army prohibited sales and circulation of Navachetana
weekly.
- During this period, more than one dozen displaced journalists
have adopted other professions.
Advertisements
After the closure of news programmes, more
than 60 per cent advertisements have been cut.
Gulmi
- Number of journalists: 26
- After February 1, the local journalists have been mentally
tortured.
- 8-10 journalists lost their job after the royal move.
Three of them have given up journalism as their profession.
- Two weeklies are being published.
- Sajha Bichar and Resunga Weekly were closed voluntarily.
- No arrest case was found. However, administration's
pressure and interference in the work of journalists increased.
- The administration stopped publication of two newspapers
for two weeks.
- No journalist so far has been summoned by the administration.
But, the administration continues strict and close watch
over political news.
- Demanding free and independent press, representatives
of the civil society in the district complained of absence
of factual news and information.
Parbat
- Number of journalists: 17
- Among them 10 journalists are active in the field.
- After February 1, the publication of newspapers /magazines
was stopped for five weeks.
- Modikali weekly and Nispakshya weekly were also closed
in the similar manner.
- The administration's pressure and the printing press's
denial to print newspapers without administration's permission
forced the journalists to maintain self-censorship.
Circulation
The mission found serious problems in circulation.
Even after printing, army personnel interference did not allow
the newspapers to circulate the copies. Similarly, some plates
which were ready to print in an offset press were also stopped.
Advertisement
After the February 1 move, advertisement
volume has been lowered by nearly 50 per cent. If the situation
remained same, the local media would fall in serious financial
crisis.
Access to information
Journalists have been facing hurdles in accessing
information. Psychological pressure spread by army and administration
has disappointed them. Chief District Officer (CDO) Hom Prasad
Adhikari claimed: After February 1, we have not given any
separate order 'to print or not to print anything'. We have
just acknowledged the orders, instructions and guidelines
circulated by the ministry.
The presence of the
administration
Some issues of the newspapers after the February
1 were seized. Security personnel maintain strict inspection
of the media. Parbat district has felt relatively liberal
environment during the period in comparison to some other
districts.
Baglung
Number of journalists: 25
Arrest: After February 1, local president of FNJ, Baglung
Rajeshchandra Rajbhandari, and secretary, Hari Narayan Gautam,
were arrested accusing them of organizing FNJ programme without
permission of the administration. They were released after
three hours. Journalist Ram Bahadur JC was arrested while
reporting, but was released next day. After the February 1,
newspapers publication was stopped for two weeks. Local journalists
complained that security personnel regularly threatened them
for publishing political news.
Dhaulagiri FM
On February 1, army personnel surrounded
the Dhaulagiri FM and stopped it's transmission for two days,
which had started since December 2004.
- Telephone line of Baglung weekly was cut-off on February
2. The administration claimed that the action was taken
due to its suspicious activities.
Comment
Army personnel look at the journalists as
a Maoist or other political activists.
Comments from Civil
Society
- Chairman of Nepal Bar unit Baglung, Kaji Gaunle Shrestha
said, "Press freedom is in danger because of attacks
from both warring parties- the state and the Maoists."
- Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) representative
Govinda Gautam said, "Media has failed to bring out
news regarding dozens of incidents of human rights violations."
- District committee member of CPN (UML) emphasized to
launch some pressure programmes.
Advertisement: After the February 1 move,
FM stations are facing serious financial crisis. In local
newspapers, the advertisement volume has been reduced by nearly
50 per cent.
Myagdi
Number of journalists: 10
- No arrest case was found.
- The number of journalists is quite minimal. Many lecturers,
teachers and college students are working as local journalists.
- Interrogation: General interrogations were carried on.
The local administration has a direct impact on the media.
- Warrant: No warrant case was found.
- The local administration instructed the only newspaper
of Myagdi, Rupse, to stop its five issues. Journalists
have been facing different type of threats, pressures
and psychological torture.
Local Journalists'
Comment
Journalism in Myagdi has become like an orphan
child. It needs to be protected. Campus Chief of Myagdi Multiple
Campus Ramji Subedi said, "The presence of press has
reduced to zero. Due to the direct/indirect inspection of
the administration, the newspapers have lost their courage
to expose reality.
Advertisement
After the February 1 move, advertisement
volume has been reduced to 50 per cent.
Presence of the administration
The administration inspected the media strictly
for one week after February 1.
CDO Gyan Prasad Bhattarai said, “We
have just implemented the instruction and circulation issued
by the ministry. Everyone has a compulsion to work according
to the changed situation. The administration did not impose
any pressure. There is improvement in the situation.
Presenter
Nava Raj Chalise
on behalf of Western Region Monitoring Team
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