(FNJ/IFEX) – The Home Ministry has sent letters asking Kathmandu-based independent radio stations to broadcast a “Home Ministry request” urging people not to participate in the four-day general strike called by the seven-party alliance for 6 – 9 April 2006. The ministry sent the letters to FM stations on 30 March, promising to pay for […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – The Home Ministry has sent letters asking Kathmandu-based independent radio stations to broadcast a “Home Ministry request” urging people not to participate in the four-day general strike called by the seven-party alliance for 6 – 9 April 2006.
The ministry sent the letters to FM stations on 30 March, promising to pay for the broadcast of its “request”. The “request” also warns the general public that security forces “can take action to contain terrorist activities in the general strike.”
According to the news source, the request, entitled “Home Ministry’s Request”, was accompanied by a covering letter that reads: “The ministry requests that your station air the enclosed announcement before your evening and morning Nepali news bulletins on March 30, April 1 and April 2, and to send a bill to the ministry for payment.”
The Save Independent Radio Movement (SIRM) has strongly criticized the government request. It has urged all independent FM stations not to air such “one-sided material” that would affect the activities of the pro-democracy political parties. The Save Independent Radio Movement (SIRM) has termed the ministry’s paid “request” as a scheme to “close down independent radio stations by dragging them into the conflict.”