Seven parties to protest against media law

In what is seen as yet another instance of country heading towards confrontation, the seven-party opposition alliance has called for various protest programs today and Friday in protest of what it called a series of repression launched by the government in the pretext of controversial new media law.

An emergency meeting of ‘Joint People’s Movement Central Coordination Committee’ on Wednesday decided to call for ‘Upatyaka Bandh’ (shutdown strike) in the capital valley to protect people’s right to information. The meeting also called upon people from various walks to life to gather at the premises of Kantipur FM from Thursday morning to protest the government’s 24-hour ultimatum to revoke its operating license. The deadline given by the government expires at around 4:30 p. m. today.

Similarly, Save Independent Radio Movement has said it will construct a ‘human shield’ around Kantipur FM from early Thursday in order to protect the FM station from government’s interference. Officials with the FM said they would move the court again Thursday against the government’s latest ultimatum while, at the same time, furnish written reply to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Kantipur daily quoted acting general secretary of CPN (UML), Bamdev Gautam, as saying that since the state increased its pace of attack against media, the seven-party alliance was forced to take a prompt and harsh decision to defend Nepali people’s right to information. President of Jana Morcha Nepal, Amik Sherchan, warned that the alliance would announce even strong programmes if the state did not withdraw “the black media law.”

Officials, on their part, say the new media law was introduced to regulate Nepali media and make it more dignified. nepalnews.com by Oct 27 05