GOVERNMENT SILENCES RADIO STATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002615 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS NSC FOR RICHELSOPH E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015 TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT SILENCES RADIO STATION REF: A. KATHMANDU 2318 ¶B. KATHMANDU 2595 Classified By: Charge Elisabeth Millard. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 8. Summary -------------- ¶2. (U) On November 27, the Government shut down Nepal's first community radio station, Radio Sagarmartha, and seized its satellite uplink equipment at gunpoint. The government claimed that the station was violating laws against aiding terrorism. Police also arrested five radio station employees, releasing them on November 28. The government's action against Radio Sagarmartha followed a similar seizure of equipment from Kantipur FM on October 21 (ref A). The police action came as Sagarmartha was beginning to air a BBC Nepali Service interview with Maoist Chairman Prachanda (ref B). End Summary. Government Seizure of Equipment Linked with Maoist Interview -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Police entered Radio Sagarmartha in Kathmandu as the station had begun to air a relay transmission of BBC Nepali Service taped interview with Maoist Chairman Prachanda at 8:45 pm local time on November 27. Radio Sagarmartha had broadcast the first few sentences of the interview, when police raided the station. The police ordered the staff not to use a phone, seized satellite uplink equipment for simultaneous rebroadcast and took five journalists and technicians working at the station into custody. The police released a female journalist that evening and the others on November 28. The police left behind two letters, one asking the station to shut down its transmission until further notice for airing programs "aiding terrorism," and the other "requesting" the station to "send" transmission equipment (the equipment that the police seized) for investigation to ensure compliance with the October 9 media ordinance. Government Gave No Warning -------------- ¶4. (C) Radio Sagarmartha acting station manager Gamaraj Luitel told Emboff that the government had not previously sent any letter to the station requesting them to stop BBC Nepali service or any other program. Thus, the government action came as a surprise. He said the government ordered the station to cease all transmission. He noted that, in addition to satellite uplink equipment needed for relaying broadcasts, the government took equipment necessary for regular broadcasting, making it "difficult if not impossible" for the station to continue with any transmission. Therefore, Radio Sagarmartha was forced to go off the air. Luitel said the station planned to file a case with the Supreme Court. (Note: Kantipur FM also brought a suit against the government following the government's seizure of its satellite uplink equipment on October 21 (ref A). End note.) Strong Reaction Against the Raid -------------- ¶5. (U) On November 27, as news of the raid spread, local media and human rights activists and international media freedom organizations expressed outrage at the government action. Dozens of journalists and human rights activists staged a protest in front of the police office where the arrested station staff were being held. On November 28, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a statement against the government's attempt to "quell all dissenting voices." IFJ President Christopher Warren said in the statement that, "the use of intimidation tactics by the Nepalese Government in attempts to silence the media and dissenting, critical voices is unacceptable." Local NGO Freedom Forum Nepal also condemned the government's actions, and called on the government to allow "access to international news media." FM Radio News Harder to Find -------------- ¶6. (U) Radio Sagarmartha went off the air following the incident. The government has reportedly blocked local internet access to BBC Nepali Service website. However, BBC World Service in English and BBC short-wave Nepali news service were not affected and continue to broadcast news and other programs. Kantipur FM has not broadcast news since October 21, but broadcasts other information and entertainment programs. Imaje Metro, a private commercial radio station based in Kathmandu, is one of the few stations continuing to broadcast news. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The government has some basis for its action, as the government was broadcasting Chairman Prachanda's interview, and thus possibly susceptible to the charge that it was aiding terrorism. However, in the wake of the Kantipur FM raid, the government's arrest of journalists and seizure of equipment raises the concern that the government will continue to take more repressive actions curtailing media freedoms. Action Request -------------- ¶8. (U) If asked about His Majesty's Government of Nepal actions against Radio Sagarmartha, Embassy suggests the following response: Begin suggested text. The United States is deeply disappointed and concerned by the state authorities' seizure at gunpoint of radio equipment and the arrest of five journalists from the Kathmandu office of Radio Sagarmartha, an independent FM radio station, on November 27. A free media is one of the hallmarks of a democratic nation, and restricting the publication or broadcast of news does not create an environment in which free and fair elections, such as the proposed February 9 municipal polls, can take place. Reestablishment of a democratic government united against the Maoist insurgency is the best path to restoring peace. The United States calls on the King and the government to move quickly toward restoring multi-party democratic institutions, protecting civil and human rights, and reaching out to the political parties in dialogue. End suggested text. MILLARD