Just as 24 new FM stations were ready to go on air, the Defence Ministry has asked the Communication Ministry to cut them off. Last year, Minister Kamal Thapa was praised for allowing new community stations, pushing the total number of licenses to 60. The Communications Ministry had already stopped issuing new licenses saying it needed to review frequency allocations, but the new directive will also affect those with new licenses in the process of setting up community stations in Bajhang, Kailali, Jumla, Surkhet, Banke, Gulmi, Solukhumbu and Nawalparasi districts. Promoters of community radio are upset. "You can't do this when there so many people are already preparing to begin broadcasts," says Bharat Koirala, one of the staunchest promoters of community radio in Nepal. Community Radio Broadcast Association chairman Raghu Mainali says the medium can serve in conflict resolution, but adds: "Our leaders seem to have closed their eyes to that potential." He accuses the government of being unable to stop foreign broadcasters and Maoist underground FM, and says the ban will help fan rumours and keep the public ignorant.