MoIC gives 24-hour ultimatum to Kantipur FM
In what is seen as yet another attempt on part of the government to intimidate the independent media, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) on Wednesday has given a 24-hour ultimatum to the Kantipur FM– a leading private sector radio station in the country.
In a letter sent to the FM’s station at Pulchowk and stamped as “confidential,” the Ministry asked, "As the station has been found broadcasting news-oriented programmes despite the promulgation of the media ordinance, in contravention of Section 5 of the National Broadcasting Act 2049 BS, (let us know) why the FM's operating license should not be canceled as per Section 8 (1) of the same Act?"
The Ministry said the government had given the FM a "chance" to furnish written clarification within 24 hours mentioning reasons, if any, along with the necessary proof establishing the reasons, as to why the station's license should not be cancelled.
The Ministry warned that it will cancel the FM's license if it is not satisfied with the clarification or if no clarification is furnished within the 24-hour deadline.
The letter comes five days after officials from the MoIC, backed by a police convoy, raided the FM station around midnight and seized its equipment used to uplink its transmission to eastern Nepal.
Media groups, rights organizations and the US government has condemned the Nepal government’s move aimed at what they call ‘intimidating the independent media.”
On Sunday, Kantipur FM moved the court asking the apex court to order the government to return its equipment and allow its eastern regional transmission. Hearings on the case will continue on October 30.
During the preliminary hearings early this week, Chief Justice Dilip Kumar Poudel told all the media institutions to approach the court if the government intervened in their proceedings while the case was pending.
It was not clear why the MoIC chose to warn the Kantipur FM station once again while the case against it is sub-judice.
The new media ordinance, promulgated by His Majesty King Gyanendra early this month, prohibits criticism of the king and royal family members and also bars broadcasting of independent news over the FM radio stations. nepalnews.com by Oct 26 05
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