|
|
|
| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
 |
|
 |
World |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Court refuses to block media law KATHMANDU, Nov 12 (AFP) - Nepal's Supreme Court refused Friday to block a widely-criticised law that bans radio news programs and introduces large fines and jail terms for those who say bad things about the royal government. Friday's ruling by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel clears the way for the government to impose the controversial law which has led to strikes and protests in the capital. The Supreme Court was ruling on a petition brought by nine professional organisations including the Federation of Nepalese Journalists. King Gyanendra seized power in February saying that politicians were incapable of stopping a Maoist insurgency which has claimed more than 12,000 lives since 1996. The new media law is seen by many observers as part of an attempt by the king to crack down on dissent in the Himalayan kingdom, and critics say it will impose severe restrictions on the freedom of the press. Kantipur Publications, Nepal's largest private media company which filed a separate petition to the Supreme Court after police confiscated vital equipment during a raid last month, said it would now respect the law and end its news broadcasts. "We had approached the honorable Supreme Court, requesting it to direct the government not to implement the recently promulgated media ordinance which aims to prevent airing of news," managing director Binod Raj Gyawali said."Since the special bench (ruling) ... we have taken the decision to suspend the Kantipur Diary (news programme) from today respecting the court's order," he said. The United States, Britain and India suspended military supplies after King Gyanendra sacked the elected government on February 1 and cracked down on civil freedoms, saying the move was necessary to beat Maoist insurgents. India has since eased its ban. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
