Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KATHMANDU2378
2005-10-31 11:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
CONTINUING PROTESTS AGAINST MEDIA ORDINANCE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002378
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL
NSC FOR GREEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: CONTINUING PROTESTS AGAINST MEDIA ORDINANCE
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2229
B. KATHMANDU 2360
Classified By: DCM Elisabeth I. Millard. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
PROTESTS FAILING TO GARNER GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT
--------------------------------------------- ----
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002378
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL
NSC FOR GREEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: CONTINUING PROTESTS AGAINST MEDIA ORDINANCE
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2229
B. KATHMANDU 2360
Classified By: DCM Elisabeth I. Millard. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
PROTESTS FAILING TO GARNER GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT
-------------- --------------
1. (U) Nepalese journalists, lawyers and politicos jointly
launched protest programs across the country against the
King's new stringent media ordinance (ref A). The protests,
however, have so far failed to gain much public support. As
reported ref B, the October 28 bandh was generally observed,
but only 1,500 people participated in the rally organized by
the seven-party alliance in Kathmandu, according to Nepal
Police Headquarters. Bhagirath Yogi, Chairman of the Center
for Human Rights and Democratic Studies, put the number at
closer to 5,000 people, but even that number was far less
than expected, demonstrating the current lack of general
public support.
JOURNALISTS ARRESTED AND RELEASED
--------------
2. (U) Bishnu Nisthuri, President of the Federation of
Nepalese Journalists (FNJ),told EmbOff that 16 journalists
were arrested in Kathmandu, 24 in Sunsari District, and three
in Lamjung District, for protesting in prohibited areas on
October 28. Police released all the journalists the same
evening, except for one reporter in Lamjung District. Over
the weekend of October 29 and 30, journalists, lawyers and
politicos staged protest demonstrations in eastern Nepal in
Dharan, in western Nepal in Pokhara, and a torch rally in
central Nepal in Dhading District, as well as Sarlahi,
Saptari and Mahottari Districts in the Terai. However, all
failed to muster large numbers of participants.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Although newspapers front-page the protests, arrests,
and international condemnation, there has yet to be a
groundswell of support to press for a repeal of the media
ordinance. The impending five-day Tihar holiday may be one
reason for the public's relative lack of engagement in the
issue. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is debating the
constitutionality of the media ordinance.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL
NSC FOR GREEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV NP
SUBJECT: CONTINUING PROTESTS AGAINST MEDIA ORDINANCE
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2229
B. KATHMANDU 2360
Classified By: DCM Elisabeth I. Millard. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
PROTESTS FAILING TO GARNER GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT
-------------- --------------
1. (U) Nepalese journalists, lawyers and politicos jointly
launched protest programs across the country against the
King's new stringent media ordinance (ref A). The protests,
however, have so far failed to gain much public support. As
reported ref B, the October 28 bandh was generally observed,
but only 1,500 people participated in the rally organized by
the seven-party alliance in Kathmandu, according to Nepal
Police Headquarters. Bhagirath Yogi, Chairman of the Center
for Human Rights and Democratic Studies, put the number at
closer to 5,000 people, but even that number was far less
than expected, demonstrating the current lack of general
public support.
JOURNALISTS ARRESTED AND RELEASED
--------------
2. (U) Bishnu Nisthuri, President of the Federation of
Nepalese Journalists (FNJ),told EmbOff that 16 journalists
were arrested in Kathmandu, 24 in Sunsari District, and three
in Lamjung District, for protesting in prohibited areas on
October 28. Police released all the journalists the same
evening, except for one reporter in Lamjung District. Over
the weekend of October 29 and 30, journalists, lawyers and
politicos staged protest demonstrations in eastern Nepal in
Dharan, in western Nepal in Pokhara, and a torch rally in
central Nepal in Dhading District, as well as Sarlahi,
Saptari and Mahottari Districts in the Terai. However, all
failed to muster large numbers of participants.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Although newspapers front-page the protests, arrests,
and international condemnation, there has yet to be a
groundswell of support to press for a repeal of the media
ordinance. The impending five-day Tihar holiday may be one
reason for the public's relative lack of engagement in the
issue. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is debating the
constitutionality of the media ordinance.
MORIARTY