Nepal's battered dailies back on stands after outcry

Two popular Nepal dailies, forced off the stands last week by Maoists, made a triumphant comeback Thursday after the court and a growing public condemnation of the attack forced the rebels to withdraw.

The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post, published by International Media Network Nepal, a private publishing house, came under siege by the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Communication, Press and Publication Workers' Union Saturday. The union prevented the publishing and distribution of the papers for allegedly publishing reports about how union leaders had threatened their journalists.

The Maoist union ignored a summons by the Patan Appellate Court, where the newspapers' marketer Asia Pacific Communication Associates Nepal had sought redress on Wednesday. But the court ordered the agitating union not to disrupt the printing and distribution till the judges hearing the case had given their final verdict.

The attack on the two dailies stirred tremendous public support with several media organisations, including rivals, as well as legal and rights groups expressing solidarity.

The Editors' Alliance, a network of daily newspaper, magazine and TV editors, said there hadn't been such serious attacks on the press even during King Gyanendra's 15-month regime, which became notorious for trying to gag the independent media.

The Himalayan Times said the US and British embassies in Nepal had expressed serious concern over the disruption.

"Intimidation against free media undermines democracy by suppressing free speech," the US Embassy reportedly said. "Maoist union-affiliated activities against these newspapers directly contradict claims by their leaders to support democracy and free media. The freedom of speech is critical to the holding of free and fair elections in November."

The daily reported the British embassy as saying that a free media was the "lifeblood of a healthy democracy" and must be allowed to function without intimidation and interference.

The growing outcry, coupled with the court order Wednesday, forced the Maoists to retreat.

The most powerful trade union of the guerrillas, the All Nepal Trade Union Federation (Revolutionary), said that in future, it would resort to other forms of protest and not disrupt the printing and distribution of the dailies.

However, it remains to be seen how long the Maoist retreat lasts.

This is the second time this year that the two dailies have come under attack.

According to Shree Acharya, Annapurna Post's managing editor: "This is a political vendetta," he said.

"With the election coming closer, the Maoists are afraid they would lose. Events show their support in the Terai plains has eroded, so has their control in the hill areas. Only pockets in the urban areas are left and so, they are trying to gag the independent media."

The disruption of the dailies was preceded by the sacking of 49 employees from Gorkhapatra Sansthan, the official print media.

The axed journalists have been holding street protests demanding reinstatement but to no avail.

Nepal's information and communications ministry is headed by Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who used to be the spokesperson of the Maoists.

A private radio station has also stopped broadcasting since last week after pro-Maoist union workers barged into its studio and padlocked its offices.

The Himalayan Broadcasting Corporation FM station is yet to resume operations.

(IANS)

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