Media Monitoring

As per the instruction of the National Security Council, the Media, especially the private Print Media, FM radios and TV channels have been forbidden to broadcast any kind of political news. As a result we have not been hearing any kind of critical news or even expression of opinions regarding the move of the King.

This morning (Feb 2, 2005) the announcement of the nomination of Cabinet Ministers was done by Government owned channels only.

The other Media houses (Kathmandu Post, Nepal 1 Television and FM stations) are surrounded by the army. Acc. to a first hand report from a reporter they are constantly monitoring the editorial views also.

Today?s Daily Newspapers

None of the daily newspapers have reported any incidents on Maoists, killings, violence etc. possibly due to cut of communication??But this is likely to happen even after restoring the communication system.

None of the daily newspapers have dared to express their opinion in editorials. Rather the editorials are carrying subjects like Bhutanese Refugees, Governor Post taken up by Bijay N. Bhattarai, Child labour etc???.

None of the reports of the Leading Dailies have their own reports, BUT all are RSS (National News Agency) reports.

The Kathmandu Post as is evident to all of you has in detail given the Invoked Article and Clauses upon the declaration of emergency. It has given the proclamation of the king in page 5. There is no byline reporting by any reporter (one can well imagine the frustration of media houses).

Today?s Weekly Tabloids

The tones of the tabloids have drastically changed in favour of the King?s step.

The headlines appear more in favour of the King and talk of Deuba?s sacking as a justified step (Jana Astha, Ghatna ra Bichar, The Telegraph).

Views of reporters/editors

The editors and reporters are too scared to publish anything. Any slightest write-up with the hint of condemning the government may lead to arrest of the journalist.

A feeling of threat and possible arrest was expressed by some correspondents writing for some Human Rights Media.

The Print and Electronic Media are too cautious to report anything as they are being guarded by the army.

Any journalist at any time may face arrest ? is the likely situation.

Future News Reports

It is very much likely that we would not know about the killings/war at the district level even after the communication system is restored.

At this stage one could say that in future one would know less about the violations of human rights by both the sides.

Even though a paper glorifies the government move it is likely that the paper may not report Maoist incidents. There is no clear indication of what a media could actually report about.

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Central committee

Press Release
The coterie of fratricidal, genocidal, corrupted and National betrayer Gyanendra Shahi, who staged an infamous Narayanahi Massacre under a deliberate design of imposing medieval feudal autocracy against the great Nepalese people of the twenty first century advancing for full democracy i.e. republican system, has finally exposed its ugly face before the masses. Gyanendra Shahi, through his so-called royal proclamation at 10 O?clock this morning, is not only meagerly exercising to slander the entire parliamentarian political parties and civil society, but also is exhibiting feudal fascist brutality of blood-bathe against the country and the masses. To talk of nationalism, democracy, patriotism and sovereignty by the one, who is most infamous feudal clique in corruption, smuggling, killings and terror, cannot be anything other than a surprising show against Nepal and the Nepalese people.
The great Nepalese people will never bow down before the threat of history?s ?ghosts? that dream of feudal autocracy in the support of foreign imperialism and expansionism. Replying by tit for tat, the day of building People?s New Nepal by throwing the feudal autocracy, responsible for the grievous situation of the country and people, into the garbage of history, has already come. It is beyond a doubt that the Nepalese masses that have shown their identity through the mass struggle of 1990 and 9 years? of people?s war are capable to fulfill their historic task of establishing republic. Our party, as a leadership of the great People?s War waged for a radical transformation of the Nepalese people, utterly denounces the so-called proclamation of Gyanendra Shahi. Our party pledges to fight till last for the emancipation of the country and people and complete overthrow of feudal autocracy. Our party forcefully appeals the entire political parties of the country, intellectual masses, civil society and the masses of different levels and sects to create a storm of countrywide rebellion unitedly under a minimum common slogan of people?s democratic republic and constituent assembly against this last lunacy of the feudal clique that has lost its necessity and credibility in the history. We also would like to clarify, in this juncture, the fact that our party is prepared to go ahead by establishing co-work and a broad front with all that are against feudal autocracy.
The flame of the People?s War will go on blazing till the so-called Royal Army that has been defeated in all the fronts with the great People?s Liberation Army, under the leadership of our Party, is dissolved and the arms are surrendered to the People?s Liberation Army. We especially appeal the entire jawans and officers working under the so-called Royal Army to defy the so-called royal proclamation, which has come in the gesture of foreign reaction against the country and people, revolt from there and implicate unitedly with the People?s Liberation Army in the great task of protecting own parents, brothers and sisters. Not the feudal clique of Gyanendra Shahi but the great Nepalese people will safeguard Nepalese independence and sovereignty, and geographical integrity.
As an immediate opposition to today?s so-called royal proclamation, which is trying to push the Nepalese society of 21st century back to the 15th, our party heartily appeals all the political forces and broad masses to shutdown Nepal from February 2, tomorrow, to 4. We also would like to clarify from this statement that by discussing with pro-people forces in the days to come the resistance will be heightened more strongly. Also, we heartily call upon the entire pro-people forces of the world to raise voice against this autocratic step and in the favor of Nepalese people?s democratic movement.
Feb 1, 2005

Prachanda
Chairman
Central Committee
C. P. N. (Maoist

What do you think they call for a shutdown?

I meant, why?