Concern over Press Council Nepal's Step to Tamper Freedom of Expression, Publicity

Freedom Forum has been concerned over the decision of Press Council Nepal which has directed a television to stop broadcasting news about a hospital. The official decision of the Press Council Nepal, the state-owned media monitoring body, on January 20, 2014, has shown grave concern over the news broadcast by Himalaya Television about Chitwan Medical College and has asked the Television to immediately stop the dissemination of the news about the college. The Council's decision is fully against Freedom of opinion and expression (Article 12) and right relating to publication, broadcasting and press (Article 15) provided by the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007. The Article 15 (a) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007, mentions, "no publication, broadcasting or printing of any news item, editorial, feature, article or other reading and audio-visual material through any means whatsoever including electronic publication, broadcasting and printing shall be censored. Similarly, (b) states, "No radio, television, on-line or other form of digital or electronic equipment, press or other means of communication publishing and broadcasting or printing any material shall be closed nor shall registration thereof be canceled by the reason of the publication, broadcasting or printing of such  material through any audio, audio-visual or electronic equipment." Freedom Forum therefore strongly condemns the Council's decision to stop the broadcasting of the news as it has breached the press Freedom and publicity rights. If the TV had done wrong, other legal measures could be taken but broadcasting could not be stopped. The decision needs to be corrected. For More Information Freedom Forum Thapathali, Kathmandu Post Box No: 24292 Phone No. 4102030, 4102022 Website: www.freedomforum.org.np | www.nepalpressfreedom.org Email: info@freedomforum.org.np | monitoring@freedomforum.org.np