Nepal is a public radio pioneer in South Asia. It was the first country to allow community radio stations in 1997 when Radio Sagarmatha went on air in Kathmandu. Nepal has also been more liberal than others in the region in allowing private FM broadcasters. The deregulation increased credibility and professionalism of radio, made the medium interactive and citizens more aware of news and trends.
But it seems the government doesn't think so. A sudden decision by the Ministry of Information and Communication on 2 January (circulated to radio stations on 16 January only) banned the broadcast of independent news and current affairs on FM. A clause in the FM licence disallows news broadcasts, but the government claims private FM stations were circumventing it by reading a selection of daily newspapers without checking facts. Sources at the ministry told us the decision was taken by journalist-turned-minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta himself in the aftermath of the street riots 26-27 December. Some FM stations were blamed for inciting tensions by broadcasting jingoistic reports and songs. Interestingly, the government move comes at a time when Gupta himself has been under fire from the media for demanding an apology from the Indian actor Hrithik Roshan for rumoured comments about Nepal that incited the violence, but which later proved to be false.
Bharat Koirala, the one Nepali who has been engaged in a crusade to promote community radio and campaigned five years to get Radio Sagarmatha its licence, is not happy with the decision. "It's not right," he told us. "FM stations were helping create a free, independent and pluralistic media, and promoting public debate in our democracy."
Media analysts say the government is using the violence as an excuse to crack down on the freedom of the airwaves. Gupta's ministry had already written to all stations demanding tapes spanning the period of the street violence, then it set up a committee to prepare "guidelines" for FM broadcasters. Finally, came the letter from the Ministry to 11 FM stations (six in Kathmandu and five outside) asking them to stop independently-produced news and current affairs. Radio Nepal news, however, can still be relayed. But to broadcast what the Ministry calls "second-hand news" the new rule requires stations to quote sources and "verify facts" before they go on air.
"This is exactly how zonal commissioners used to behave in Panchayat days to control the press," says Raghuji Pant, UML MP and a former journalist. "You cannot be more undemocratic than that." The Parliament's Development Committee has decided to order the Ministry to send copies of all FM station licences and call officials over to explain reasons behind the decision. The hearing is to take place on 24 January.
The distinctive and popular voice of Radio Sagarmatha, which relied heavily on its own news and analysis, has been worst hit. The station had popular talk shows, news programmes, panel discussions and phone-ins. The station is run by a group of environmental journalists and was already under pressure from the Ministry, which hadn't renewed its licence. Kantipur FM, the other station with substantial current affairs content, defied the government and went ahead with its morning news-show and also evening broadcasts on Wednesday, as did Classic FM which uses the Radio Nepal's own FM transmitters.
Most station managers preferred not to comment openly on the decision, fearing retribution from the Ministry. Said one: "Maybe the democratic government wants the people to only listen to propaganda on Radio Nepal. The decision is an insult to listeners and their capacity to judge news from rumours." But Sri Ram Poudel, Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication, denies that this is an attempt to gag radio. "This is not censorship. We are only trying to make news
more factual."
