US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2378

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Identifier:	05KATHMANDU2378
Wikileaks:	View 05KATHMANDU2378 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Kathmandu
Created:	2005-10-31 11:06:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PHUM PGOV NP Nepali Government Policy
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002378 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, NP, Nepali Government Policy 
SUBJECT: CONTINUING PROTESTS AGAINST MEDIA ORDINANCE 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2229 
     B. KATHMANDU 2360 
 
Classified By: DCM Elisabeth I. Millard.  Reasons 1.4(b/d). 
 
PROTESTS FAILING TO GARNER GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
1.  (U) Nepalese journalists, lawyers and politicos jointly 
launched protest programs across the country against the 
King's new stringent media ordinance (ref A).  The protests, 
however, have so far failed to gain much public support.  As 
reported ref B, the October 28 bandh was generally observed, 
but only 1,500 people participated in the rally organized by 
the seven-party alliance in Kathmandu, according to Nepal 
Police Headquarters.  Bhagirath Yogi, Chairman of the Center 
for Human Rights and Democratic Studies, put the number at 
closer to 5,000 people, but even that number was far less 
than expected, demonstrating the current lack of general 
public support. 
 
JOURNALISTS ARRESTED AND RELEASED 
--------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) Bishnu Nisthuri, President of the Federation of 
Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), told EmbOff that 16 journalists 
were arrested in Kathmandu, 24 in Sunsari District, and three 
in Lamjung District, for protesting in prohibited areas on 
October 28.  Police released all the journalists the same 
evening, except for one reporter in Lamjung District.  Over 
the weekend of October 29 and 30, journalists, lawyers and 
politicos staged protest demonstrations in eastern Nepal in 
Dharan, in western Nepal in Pokhara, and a torch rally in 
central Nepal in Dhading District, as well as Sarlahi, 
Saptari and Mahottari Districts in the Terai.  However, all 
failed to muster large numbers of participants. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
3.  (C) Although newspapers front-page the protests, arrests, 
and international condemnation, there has yet to be a 
groundswell of support to press for a repeal of the media 
ordinance.  The impending five-day Tihar holiday may be one 
reason for the public's relative lack of engagement in the 
issue.  Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is debating the 
constitutionality of the media ordinance. 
MORIARTY