By Dinesh Wagle on August 3rd, 2005 in Xtra
Nepal FM faces possible closure
Breaking Blog.
Authorities in Nepal have ordered an independent FM radio station in Kathmandu to immediately halt broadcasting news. Officials at Nepal FM 91.8 Megahertz have confirmed to UWB this afternoon that they have received a letter from the Ministry of Information and Communication that seeks explanation from the radio station- why it was broadcasting news defying government issued order not do so.
Reminding the provision numbers 7 and 8 of Rastriya Prasaran Ein- 2048 (National Broadcasting Act- 1992), the ministry letter wants the station to immediately come up with plausible explanations as to why the government shouldn’t close down the station for defying the orders.
Government has banned all 47 FM stations from broadcasting news after the Feb 1 royal takeover. FMs were immensely popular and were becoming the primary source of news among millions of Nepalis- from illiterate to the educated mass.
The station had started broadcasting news from Ashad 23 (July 7) on the occasion of the king’s birthday. The palace had sent a letter to the station with information related to king’s biography to broadcast on the occasion of his birthday. That was information. With the broadcast of that information, the FM had continued disseminating news via its two daily bulletins.
Point 7 of the Act states that the government can ban broadcasters from broadcasting on certain topics for not more than 6 months.
8 A of the Act gives power to the government to close down a broadcasting station that ignores its orders.
8 B of the Act gives chance to the broadcasting station to explain, before government takes the decision as per 8 A as to why it ignored the orders.
Details will follow soon.
4 Responses to “Govt Seeks Explanation from Radio Station”
1. Reporter Says:
August 3rd, 2005 at 10:05 pmIf the FM news is reporting baised reports like you guys, I am not surprised its banned !!
2. D.MICHAEL VANDEVEER-mike4radio@yahoo.com Says:
August 4th, 2005 at 1:35 amIf the Government(Mafia, Criminal enterprise headquarted in the Palace) is afraid of FM News could it be because they are afraid of the truth ?
B.General Dipak K. Gurung, Director of Public Relations for the RNA and the Palace, cannot expect that the Nepali people do not see beyond his lies and mis-information.
FM Radio will not be silenced by thugs… SPEEK THE TRUTH & KNOW THE TRUTH… IT WILL SET YOU FREE !!
3. D.MICHAEL VANDEVEER-mike4radio@yahoo.com Says:
August 4th, 2005 at 11:48 amMake that “SPEAK”
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