International Advocacy Mission for Press Freedom in Nepal

Background

On February 1st, 2005, King Gyanendra declared State of Emergency in the country. He sacked the elected government and announced cabinet of ministers under his chairmanship. The Army (RNA) assumed a central role in enforcing the state of emergency.

Following the King’s announcement all private FM stations were either closed or their programs censored by the army. All the foreigh TV news channels were blocked. Even the telecommunication services were stopped. Army troops were deployed at media institutions . Numerous print and broadcast media institutions were placed under the supervision of the army, with stories being vetted by military personnel. Although the RNA subsequently removed its physical presence from these media, they have been forced to exercise self-censorship. Government suspenden broadcasting of news bulletins by FM radio stations.

In the weeks following the imposition of the ‘state of emergency’, the Kathmandu based print media gradually expanded the freedom of expression ‘space’. Nevertheless, harassment and intimidation have continued. Moreover, the restrictions placed on the regional media outside of Kathmandu remain harsh and sporadically applied by the local civil and military authorities. Although the ‘state of emergency’ was lifted on 29 April, this has not significantly reduced the censorship and intimidation being levelled against the media, although it may allow new impetus in the media’s efforts to counter such restrictions.

The national media community, led by institutions such as the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Media Services International, Himal Association and Nepal Press Institute have lobbied against the restrictions placed on the media, including undertaking joint missions to the districts. These missions have achieved some success in getting media practitioners released from detention and re-opening local print media. However, it is estimated that approximately 1,000 journalist jobs are under threat due to the continued ban on news production, particularly amongst the 47 operational local community/ commercial radio stations. In addition, the safety of media practitioners both in Kathmandu and the districts remains seriously threatened by the continuing repression of media freedoms and intensified military conflict.

Following the declaration of the ‘state of emergency’, there have been a series of missions undertaken by international media and freedom of expressions organisations, including the International Federation of Journalists (funded by IMS), Committee to Protect Journalists, Amnesty International, South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and others. According to the national media community, these missions have had a positive impact in both pressuring the authorities and bolstering the morale of the national media community. These missions have also resulted in a number of recommendations, although the majority have not been actualised in the form of project activities.

As the form of censorship and pressure being applied by the authorities evolves and the effects of the restrictions can be more clearly assessed, it is important that the momentum of coordinated national and international advocacy be kept up. Moreover, as the situation develops it is becoming clear that direct censorship is being replaced by indirect pressures (such as through manipulating state and private advertising in the media).

Moreover, whilst the Kathmandu based media has been able to expand its ‘freedom of expression’ space, the regional media have not been able to emulate this. It also now seems that the authorities are seeking to institutionalise the current system of restrictions on the media. In this regard, a joint international advocacy effort is required to specifically address the issues of supporting regional broadcast and print media, maintaining a constructive media policy environment and highlighting manipulation through indirect methods, such as commercial pressure.

National/ International ‘Partnership’
To date a number of international organisations have implemented missions and/or activities in Nepal in response to the restrictions placed on the media after 1 February 2005. However, there is a need to both ensure continued momentum in these efforts, as well as increase the scale of lobbying and advocacy being applied to the relevant authorities and combatant groups. Moreover, a further challenge is to find realistic avenues for ‘operationalising’ the recommendations made by both national and international actors.

In order to pool expertise and ensure maximum impact of these lobbying and advocacy efforts in Nepal, a national/ international partnership will be formed. The aims of this partnership will be to ensure linkage and complementarity amongst the efforts of international actors in cooperation with those activities being undertaken by the national actors.

AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters)
Marcelo Solervicens - General Secretary

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Agnes Callamard - Executive Director

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Shawn Crispin - Asia Consultant

International Federation of Journalists
Jacqueline Park - Director of Asia/Pacific Office
Laxmi Murthy - South Asia Program Officer

International Media Support (IMS)
Torben Krogh – Chairperson
Jesper Højberg – Executive Director
Thomas Hughes – Acting Deputy Director

International Press Institute
David Dadge - Editor and Senior Press Freedom Advisor
Catherine Power - Asia Coordinator

Reporters sans Frontières
Vincent Brossel - Head of Asia-Pacific Department

UNESCO
Dr. Abdul Khan - Assistant Director General for Communication and Information

World Association of Newspapers
Melanie Walker - Press Freedom Assistant

Press Institute of India
Ms. Sevanti Ninan

South Asian Free Media Association,
Mr. Hussain Naqi - Central Secretariat
Ms. Sadaf Arsahd - Central Secretariat

World Press Freedom Committee
Cushrow Irani - Vice-Chairperson

Mission Statement by International Organisations
International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal
16 July 2005

From 10 to 16 July 2005, twelve international organisations, including UN agencies, global media associations, freedom of expression advocates and media development organisations, undertook a mission to Nepal concerning freedom of expression and press freedom.

Based on the findings of the mission, the international organisations wish to make the following observations and recommendations in relation to guaranteeing and promoting press freedom and freedom of expression :

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