[cr-india] Nepal threatens to close private radio station

[sakthi vel]

Nepal threatens to close private radio station 

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s royalist government threatened on
Thursday to close down a private radio station if it
continued to ignore a ban on broadcasting news. 

Independent radio station Nepal FM has been
broadcasting news since last month despite a ban since
February 1 when King Gyanendra fired the government
and seized power. 

Only state radio is allowed to broadcast news in Nepal
— private stations can only broadcast entertainment.
The information and communications ministry said Nepal
FM could lose its licence in a week’s time for defying
the order. 

“This is against the spirit of press freedom,” Binod
Dhungel, a Nepal FM official said. 

“We’ll fight against the government decision and if
necessary challenge it in court,” Dhungel said. 

Press freedom in Nepal remains curbed since the king
suspended civil liberties and banned private radio
stations from broadcasting news. 

Gyanendra has eased some restrictions on the media but
journalists are not allowed independent reporting on
the anti-monarchy insurgency. 

Gyanendra has said he took power to crush the
increasingly deadly Maoist revolt in which more than
12,500 people have died. 

Kathmandu has remained peaceful since the king’s move
but violence has not abated in the countryside where
the Maoists have a strong presence. 

The guerrillas want to overthrow the Hindu monarchy
and install a communist republic in Nepal, tucked
between Asian giants China and India. Web posted at:
8/6/2005 3:35:27Source ::: Reuters 

 Jaisakthivel, Ardic Dx Club, India



		
_______________________________________________________
Too much spam in your inbox? Yahoo! Mail gives you the best spam protection for FREE! http://in.mail.yahoo.com