IFJ deplores govt raid on Radio Sagarmatha

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed grave concern over the police raid on Radio Sagarmatha FM, a community radio station on Sunday night.

Radio Sagarmatha FM went off the air at 8:45 p.m. Sunday night after police raided the station, seized its transmission equipment and took into custody four journalists and a technician working at the station.

“The use of intimidation tactics by the Nepalese Government in attempts to silence the media and dissenting, critical voices is unacceptable,” a statement issued by the IFJ quoted IFJ president Christopher Warren as saying.

The statement added that the reason for the raid against Sagarmatha is thought to be connected to the BBC Nepali Service airing an exclusive interview with Maoist chairman Prachanda alias Pushpa Kamal Dahal-the first radio interview given by him in the last ten years-despite Sagarmatha airing music instead of his interview.

"The government’s attempts to quell all dissenting voices will only result in the complete quashing of all democratic space in Nepal, leaving little room for a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict the king used as an excuse for the February 1 coup," said Warren.

“It is reported that approximately seven FM stations outside of Kathmandu were forced to drop their transmission of BBC Nepali Service on Monday November 28 by local authorities because of the interview,” the statement adds.

The IFJ in its statement also called for the immediate release of the journalists and technicians who remain in custody after the incident.

The raid of Sagarmatha follows the October 21 police raid of the station of Kantipur FM where its equipment used to uplink its transmission were seized. The authorities are yet to return the equipment.

The government is taking action against FM Radio stations saying they are transmitting news defying the governments' order not to transmit news under recently promulgated Media Ordinance, which is under the Judicial review at the Supreme Court. nepalnews.com pb Nov 28 05

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