OCTOBER 9, 2005
Posted October 17, 2005
All journalists
CENSORED
A restrictive media law was implemented by Nepal’s King Gyanendra. Local journalists said the ordinance codifies severe restrictions on the press that were announced when the king sacked the multi-party government and claimed absolute authority on February 1.
The king’s cabinet first passed the law in May but delayed its implementation when journalists launched a wave of protests, according to local news reports.
The new law bans FM stations from broadcasting news, according to local reports. Radio stations in Nepal started airing news programs in August for the first time since February after the Supreme Court stayed a government order banning FM news broadcasts. The ministry issued a warning today to private FM radio stations to stop broadcasting news in compliance with the new ordinance, according to local reports. As many as 2,000 radio journalists face unemployment.