ISLAMABAD, March 25: Press freedom situation in Nepal had considerably deteriorated in the last eight months, due to harassment and detention of media professionals from the royal armed forces, says a report.

“Continuing military and civil authorities’ harassment, attacks and detention of media professionals besides seizure of equipment particularly in the districts, is having a devastating effect on independent media”, said the report, prepared by the International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission after completing its week-long mission in the troubled Himalayan country.

In a press release received here on Saturday, the mission found that journalists were also under attack from Maoists, particularly since the ceasefire withdrawal in January.

Of particular concern was the increasing involvement of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and armed police forces in press freedom and freedom of expression violations, as well as interference in the media sphere.

Proposals for a broadcasting authority and the creation of an unrepresentative media council through new media ordinances, in contradiction to the principles of the 1990 Constitution, would further endanger the survival of the independent media.

Government pressure on the economic base of independent media had intensified with the discriminatory one-door advertisement policy leading to closures and significant job losses.

“The principle of government support to a particular segment of the media is unacceptable”, the mission says, expressing support “for the critical role of the representative Federation of Nepalese Journalists, which had been leading the campaign for the restoration of press freedom and democracy”.

According to the mission, the refusal of the government to respect freedom of expression eroded 15 years of development for the media community in Nepal. It undermined democratic and economic progress and the chances of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the country. The mission released its findings and recommendations at a press conference in Kathmandu.

The 12 international organizations participating in the mission included ARTICLE 19, Free Voice, International Federation of Journalists, International Freedom of Expression Exchange — IFEX, International Media Support, International News Safety Institute, International Press Institute, Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), South Asia Press Commission, Unesco, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters — AMARC and World Press Freedom Committee.

Three other international organizations, which participated in the July 2005 mission, were supporting the return mission in March 2006. These organizations include Committee to Protect Journalists, Press Institute of India and World Association of Newspaper.

The mission was organised in collaboration with 28 local organizations, institutes and networks in Nepal.—Our Reporter