Kathmandu, August 12:

Media activists today flayed the government for trying to control the free press by unfair distribution of government advertisements. The government recently introduced Government Advertisement One-Door Policy, 2062 BS (GAODP) which, among others, has made it a rule that only those newspapers which show respect to the monarchy will get government advertisements. The policy states that the media should meet four conditions to get government advertisements, among which, one is that “they should have expressed full commitment to the institution of monarchy” through their respective media. Likewise, the basis for evaluation includes “respect accorded to the institution of monarchy”. Federation of Nepalese Journalists vice-president Shiva Gaule said journalists are against GAODP because it will pressurize publishing houses to be loyal to autocracy and eventually kill press freedom.

“It will deprive journalists of playing a critic’s role or keeping the people informed,” he said, adding that the government should not misuse the nation’s recourses to bind the press to its policies.

Former FNJ president Tara Nath Dahal said the government, by introducing GAODP, was trying to distribute subsidy money to those who publish limited copies of newspapers, who enjoy facilities for journalists and keep licking the boots of the puissant. He added that by making such an impractical and lengthy process of dispatching advertisements, the government was neglecting the notion of open market policy, existence of Advertising Agency Association of Nepal and also misusing the Press Council as well as FNJ. Gopal Budhathoki, editor of Saanghu weekly, said the royal proclamation has already suppressed newspapers and that GAODP would edge out neutral newspapers. Another former FNJ president Suresh Acharya said only those papers who are loyal to the Royal Proclamation will remain after the policy comes into effect. Indra Aryal, a human rights activist from HURON, said that by introducing the policy the government had axed the people’s rights to be informed.