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6/15/2005 - Censorship in Shangri-la: Freedom of the Press in Nepal by Richard D. Connerney

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler Sharon F Doorasamy Peter Geithner Gary Hartshorn Katherine Roth Kono Cheng Li Peter Bird Martin David Z Robinson Carol Rose John Spencer Edmund Sutton HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A RDC SOUTH ASIA Richard Connerney Phillips Talbot Fellow studying influence impact ligion Indian society Censorship Shangri Freedom Press Nepal By Richard D Connerney People awful things other But worse places where erybody It really Information light Information itself about anything light Tom Stoppard Night Day JUNE When I remember visiting Nepal early 1990s student I recall friendly mountain kingdom happy subjects where everything endlessly fascinating Shangri Although visits Nepal midst democracy movement early 1990s I barely noticed I years oblivious politics Like Western travelers I looked Nepal through glasses colored could barely through Since 1960s Kathmandu popular destination young travelers looking experience highs geographical pharma ceutical Himalayas Freak Street stretch cheap hotels hashish middle became place starved students counter culture eccentrics gather about Buddhist philosophy inhale local atmosphere Even years after Age Aquarius I member party atmosphere expatriate community Kathmandu wandering foothills above bacchanals Peace Corps officer asking friend In retrospect wanderers might problem An influx tourist dollars economies Kathmandu Pokhara backpacker routes Everest Annapurna circuits afloat while country medieval state poverty In remote districts invis Western travelers Marxist ideology spread among perate villagers covetous material wealth cities If I remained oblivious Nepalese protesters early impossible ignore widespread Maoist insurgency Child When I revisited Kathmandu June I found changed decade Freak Street still there starry Western spiritual quests still wandered alleyways They fewer number however joined older drabber women workers human rights activists velopment specialists UN observers On streets feeling different Store owners aggressive friendly When I walked through Durbar Square where temples located wanted guide beset offers They persistent unpleasant I returned hotel Other signs economic desperation blatant Greater numbers beggars lined sidewalks I member prostitutes plied their trade across street royal palace The reception Kathmandu Guest House estimated industry about percent At Pashupatinath group temples dedicated Shiva guide business percent The Pain Joy People My Pain Joy Contemporary Kathmandu differed memory other stranger Throughout squads heavily armed diers behind sandbags barbed At intersec tions government erected billboards played quotes His Majesty King Gyanendra ruling monarch Nepal Some projected King thoughts democracy A Successful Multiparty De mocracy alone synonymous People Democ while other slogans presented King pater protector Nepalese people The people The royal billboards created almost Orwellian feeling pedestrians every street corner required template words their King I visited famous Buddhist reliquary stupa Swayambhu considered painted under spire The motif represents omniscience Buddha design stupas Nepal At however seemed taken sinister meaning Were royal Big Brother watching Nepalese people The newspapers Nepal certainly impression Every papers printed reports protests Nepalese nalists against censorship The police arrested journalists these protests detained months without hearing The Federation Nepalese Journalists FNJ alleged least journalist tured while custody The Ministry In formation monitors Nepali television channels alters their programming strays controversial territory Open ridicule King forbidden papers quote King mosphere forced respect You Say Gyanendra I Dipendra Let Call Whole Thing Off Given recent history royal family surprising Nepalese government skinned comes negative coverage King Gyanendra After supposed first place It following murder brother King Birendra royal palace June Gyanendra ascended throne The accepted version events King Birendra Crown Prince Dipendra gunned father extended family himself while drunken The assassination beloved Birendra shocked Nepali public rampant speculation about particulars killings The Nepalese obsessed about royal massacre Americans about sassination JFK conspiracy explain While credible evidence suggests King Gyanendr anyway culpable death brother Nepalese people usurper Shortly after murders Nepalese journalist interviewed local about views shootings The suggested King Gyanendra The Kathmandu Post Journo freed after months INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS might ordered killings Then admits sound quite fetched His Gyane King Gyanendra would ruthless enough brothers relatives organized enough without being discovered shrewd enough steer international media inves tigation committee favor enough intimidate every eyewitness Despite doubtful cogency theories connecting King Gyanendra murders Nepalese press articles suggested massacre elabo scheme place throne On June three royal bloodbath The Kathmandu Post article which Maoist leader claimed murders group international spirators Enraged rumormongering during national crisis government ordered interrogation several editors June After their release paper immediately printed synopsis original article further infuriating government Thus before Gyanendra crowned stage confrontation between palace press The King forget treatment received press Faced spreading Maoist insurgency frustrated legislature paralyzed litical infighting King Gyanendra declared state emergency February He dissolved Par liament ordered arrest former prime minister assumed executive command government In months since government sought press arrested rnalists government media guidelines Pushing Limits If Nepal become Orwellian police state I wondered papers gripe about On first Kathmandu street corner number Nepalese newspapers They contained about Maoist surgency On example Maoists infiltrated Kathmandu Valley robbed killed nocent bystander Other articles openly attacked plans governmental reform reported criticisms foreign leaders The editors papers The Kathmandu Post The Himalayan Times showed reluctance printing articles openly called reinstitution democracy denounced royal takeover The I Norwegian photojournalist named Goerin hotel lobby She against censorship press taking place nearby neighborhood How about I asked It papers answered About thousand people attended protest which place outside Everest Hotel neighbor Buneshwar The police arrived large They their distance however I observed their behavior courteous threatening While there I Prakash Adhikari General Sec retary Nepalese Union Journalists I asked biggest complaint about government Oddly mention censor Instead inspiration protest government decision tract government advertising newspapers In Nepal ernment public announcements legal notices newspapers The ernment stopped running vertisements after King declared state emergency According Kiran Chapagain editor English language daily Kathmandu Post removal government adver Thapa Manjushree For Kathmandu An Elegy Democracy Penguin Delhi The Kathmandu Post Massacre Grave Political Conspiracy Maoist number available The Kathmandu Post Royal Massacre conspiracy Maoists number available The Himalayan Times Woman killed crossfire Himalayan News Service Manmohan Sonia early revival democracy Nepal The Himalayan Times King polls planned NC D leader Nidhi RDC tising newspapers disastrous Many local papers closed larger Kathmandu papers reduced number pages printed average I asked Kiran there stories would newspaper could We answered We limits seeing Pushing limits actly journalists After numerous speeches testers played banned radio cassette recorder Although direct public defiance government police react rests When demonstration Goerin I shared hotel I really appointed protest Nobody arrested I wanted fighting A nights later I GTs Bar Lounge listened Nepalese earnest discordant rendi Lynyrd Skynrd Sweet Home Alabama sheet music By chance I Ram Kumar Khatri editor Quarterly Development Review The Quarterly De velopment Review focuses social economic issues Nepal local interna tional readership Mr Khatri magazine He mentioned almost boasting King angry Why I asked Look through pages magaz I included picture King I required I Mr Khatri spread smile Mr Khatri attitude towards typical Nepalese journalists They deliberately confronta government pride themselves break rules The press Kathmandu often censorship Manichean terms battle between For press philo sophical absolute something inevitably benefi unqualifiedly In their minds engaged between censorship freedom As other groups warriors often victory martyrdom Three after I tended protest Buneshwar Federation Nepalese Journalists FNJ organized another protest Ratna Park restricted royal palace Asked FNJ decided ignore government order banning protests Ratna Park former FNJ president Tara Na Dahal explained Since unconstitutional government violate prohibitory orders Un protest I attended which orderly violent turned police arrested journalists Radio Free Nepal FM radio stations borne brunt govern censorship Nepal For reason govern banned programs FM radio broadcasts insisted music other types entertainment They issued other guidelines FM stations including oddities reporting King comments G meeting Doha One possible explanation focus FM broad casts radio reaches rural audience areas where literacy daily newspapers difficult In remote areas government gaged information Maoist rebels their underground radio broadcast system An alternative reason FM station censorship legal Until recently legal tections press extended printed material FM radio exclusive domain state broadcast stations When Supreme Court extended rights expres radio broadcasts 1990s result marked increase independent FM radio stations This growth occurred expense state operated stations government attempting neutralize effects through executive order These conjectures I looked could article included information about ernment rationale issue Ironically difficult writing about press censorship Nepal blatant media favor journalists Most coverage about FM radio censorship consisted glorifying recent protest stunt Nepalese press corps Indeed Nepali Times include minute simultaneous conch blowing stations beseeching Pashupatinath Shiva reciting clause constitution freedom expression mailing government constitution broken radio Simulta neous silence stations minutes light candles Matighar Mandala local shrine scheduled If I confused about government policy toward FM radio however broadcasters On June delegation radio journalists asked Secretary Communication clarify government position received explanation At protest Buneshwar I spoke briefly Gopal Guragain director Nepalese broadcasting named Communication Corner For reasons clear Communication Corner attracted government which recently arrested tained Mr Guragain He agreed interview business Several later I attempted contact phone unsuccessful All phone numbers listed Communication Cor disconnected Do collect while Nepal The Ministry Information Hoping answers I Ministry Information office They seemed quite surprised foreigner An official insisted seeing press creden tials I showed ICWA identification explained I writer America The Kathmandu Post Scribes Arrested Protest Rally Condemnation Pouring Nepali Times Media Bashing The Foolhardy Move Gag Radio Silenced People Voice The Himalayan Times Radio journalists explanation RDC curious about government policy towards press Eeekwah slowly looking I never heard Eeekwah CNN I organization Ministry Information press When I I replied Then collect while Nepal I tried I asked permission attend press conference scheduled He repeated I could collect while I Nepal asked leave Acting assumption Ministry Infor mation would foreign writer journalists I attended press conference anyway I correct alone It standing Nepalese journalists packed conference I lucky chair The sitting turned Purushottam Rai marketing director The Himalayan Times He explained expect announcement issue govern advertising drawn press large numbers The Minister Information arrived delivered short speech urging press trust their government We family He announced government would review decision advertising announcement later unspecified The program ended military commander video Maoist wartime atrocities included stomach churning footage decapitated women children During question answer session descended chaos The journalists spoke yelled obviously sarcastic remarks minister laughed expense The minister never instead further infuriated journalists canned smile vapid answers About tions subject advertising other freedom press The subject FM radio never At meeting attempted raise subject could himself heard above Censorship Shangri Although I acquire information about government policies toward FM radio press ference I learn something about relationship tween Ministry Information Nepalese press ither understands other The Nepalese media willfully blind about government responsible wartime coverage government oblivious workings press If absurd Ministry Information Nepalese journal follow policies government refuses plain equally ridiculous journalists expect government advertising dollars munications industry remains openly hostile existence The attitude Nepalese press toward tional crisis admirable Organizations FNJ deliberately provoke police Nepalese nalists adopted shrill their criticism government While media legitamate plaints ubiquitous coverage gives itself states In ongoing drama playing between King media latter often taken prima donna In process furthe harmed already ailing tourist industry spooking Western travelers overblown stories civil rights abuses If playwright Tom Stoppard claimed Informa light contemporary Nepal shady place While local press unbridled PBS neither tightly controlled Pravda In Nepal today people still street corners argue licly about politics newspapers still print editorials criticize government cartoons burly characters resemble King although closely In bookstore Kathmandu shopper books Dreadful Night Carnage Nepalese Royal Palace which treat Prince Dipendra regicidal fiction More importantly battlefield includes victories reverses Royal Nepalese Army Body counts fight still appear papers matter human rights violations other wartime atrocities sides conflict equal column space While impossible characterize relationship between palace press anything other terrible King seeks insti Soviet style control media Rather Shresta Aditya Man The Dreadful Night Carnage Nepalese Royal Palace Ekta Books Kathmandu INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS ernment probably taken inspiration American history During Viet War negative coverage American forces South Vietnam helped public sentiment against ultimately American withdrawal Since military planners wartime media coverage effect morale important strategic considerations Regarding Iraq War example American government prohibited press showing bodies American soldiers television Today modern military leaders believe conflict entails information requiring careful cultivation positive For reason Nepalese American journalists probably removal government interference wartime reporting return Viet press freedom Like Nepal youth those INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Current Fellows their Activities Alexander Brenner June CHINA With B A History Yale M A China Studies Johns Hopkins School Advanced International Studies Alex China examining country adapting economic cultural globalization following accession World Trade Organization Richard D Connerney January INDIA A lecturer Philosophy Asian Religions Logic Rutgers University Rick Connerney spending years Phillips Talbot Fellow studying writing about intertwining religion culture politics India described former U S Am bassador John Kenneth Galbraith functioning anarchy Rick B A M A religion Wheaton College University Hawaii respectively Kay Dilday October FRANCE MOROCCO An editor New York Times Op Ed years Kay holds M A Comparative International Politics Theory Graduate Center City University New York Bachelor degree English Literature Tufts University graduate Universiteit Amsterdam Netherlands Cours Civilisation Sorbonne She traveled written Haiti began journalistic council reporter Somerville This Week Somerville MA Cristina Merrill June ROMANIA Born Bucharest Cristina moved Romania United States mother father Learning English retaining Romanian majored American History Harvard College there became women tennis She received Master degree Journalism New York University worked several U S publications Adweek New York Times spending years Romania watching emerge darkness Ceauscescu regime presumed light membership European Union NATO Nicholas Schmidle October IRAN A journalist researcher Pew Forum Religious Public Life Nick finishing Master program Comparative Regional Studies Middle East Central Asia American University Washington DC He studying intensive Persian fiancee Rikki Bohan anticipation departure Iran after marriage autumn Andrew J Tabler February SYRIA LEBANON Andrew lived studied worked Middle East since Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellowship enabled begin Arabic language studies toward Master degree American University Cairo Following Master editorships Middle East Times Cairo Times before moving Turkey Lebanon Syria working Senior Editor Oxford Business Group correspondent Economist Intelligence Unit His ICWA fellowship bases Beirut Damascus where report Lebanese affairs Syrian reform Jill Winder July GERMANY With B A politics Whitman College Walla Walla WA Master degree Art Curating Bard College Annandale Hudson NY Jill ICWA Donors Fellow looking Germany through ideas viewpoints contemporary artists Before months intensive study German language Berlin Thomas J Watson Fellow looking communist practice cultural politics transition former Soviet Czech Republic Slovakia Poland Croatia Hungary Latvia Romania Slovenia Ukraine Instit Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment interna tional events issues Author Connerney Richard D Title ICWA Letters South Asia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia The Americas Europe Russia Mideast North Africa Sub Saharan Africa ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street H anover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries profes sional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail valley Web address Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Administrator Brent Jacobson Publications Design Management Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Af fairs The Crane Rogers Foundation This newsletter reprinted republished without express written consent Institute Cur World Affairs