Saturday, May 21 2005 14:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Tightening its grip on media despite lifting of emergency, Nepal's Royal Government has passed strict laws aimed at curbing press freedom, prohibiting any news item that causes "hatred or disrespect" against King Gyanendra and his family members.

Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) said it will intensify a stir against the new ordinance, passed by the Cabinet on Wednesday (May 18, 2005).

The ordinance amended the "Nepal Act related to Media," which has provisions to fine up to Rs 100,000 and sentence jail term of upto one year for publishing materials that are deemed prohibited, The Kathmandu Post reported citing highly placed sources. The daily termed the new press laws as "Draconian".

FNJ President Bishnu Nishthuri termed the new law as the Government's intention to "totally control free press and to convert it into Government's propaganda machinery".

"We strongly oppose the new act and we will launch intensified struggle against it," he said. "The new press law is aimed at making the private media of Nepal handicapped and totally eliminate the free press."

The law, which is yet to be made public, prohibits publishing any item that "causes hatred or disrespect against the King and his family members".

It bans publishing items that promote or help terrorists, terrorism and destructive activities and prohibits broadcasting news-based programmes by private FM radio stations, besides restricting license to a single individual to operate only two options out of radio, television and newspaper.

The new press law also prohibits import of foreign publications that are deemed banned and penalises individuals for importing, printing or translating any banned materials.

The FNJ announced fresh protest programmes from tomorrow (May 22, 2005) to restore press freedom and end press curb with the slogan "Complete press freedom for peace and democracy".

On the first day, black flags will be shown at all the offices and branch offices of FNJ across the country and a joint demonstration will be organized on June 13, the final day of the stir, according to a press release.

Other programmes included in the three week long agitation are discussions, interactions, cartoon exhibition and demonstrations to show protest against the Government's acts of curbing and suppressing the free press, the FNJ release said.