Nepal Newspaper Editors Jailed. Here's the banned story...

Royal massacre, a conspiracy: Maoists

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, June 7 – Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) Wednesday issued a statement reiterating their claim that the horrendous massacre at the Royal Palace last Friday was a conspiracy.

A statement signed by President of NCP (Maoist) Prachanda and received here Wednesday says that King Birendra and whole of his family members were wiped out through a well-planned murder.

The statement blames India and Koirala government as a part of the conspiracy. (yo)



Police arrests publishers of Kantipur
KOL Report

KATHMANDU, June 6 - Police today under the charges of "treason" arrested Managing Director of Kantipur Publications Kailash Sirohiya, Director Binod Gyawali and Editor-in-Chief of Kantipur, a national Nepali daily Yuvaraj Ghimire.

Police alleged the Nepali daily Kantipur of state offence on publishing an article written by underground Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai today. The article written by Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Bhattarai has been published in the opinion page of Kantipur on Wednesday.

However, police did not elaborate further on the accusations. (sk)



Govt alerts press media

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, June 7 - The government on Wednesday called on all the press-media not to publish news and opinions that contravene the national unity and integrity.

It was informed at a press conference called by the government at the Radio Nepal meeting hall.

“Let no news and opinions that affect the nationality and mislead the people be published,” said Shiva Raj Joshi, the Minister for Information and Communication. No news that affect the public opinions adversely would do good for the country, he added.

He also appealed the publishers to uphold the 2048 Constitutional provisions binding on the press while publishing the news.

When asked why the deadly incident that took place inside the Royal Palace on Friday night was not informed on time, Minister Joshi said the government could not get the information from the place as the Palace was “sensitive”.

He also revealed that the government has opened a separate branch for information so as to provide easy access to news for the media. “The government is looking the media with hopes to escape the (present) turbulent situation”, the Minister said.

Minister of State for Information and Communication, Puskar Nath Ojha requested the press to publish only the factual news keeping in mind the critical situation. “ There are efforts to disrupt the peace and security for which press should come forward and help the government,” Ojha added. (yo)


Source: http://www.kantipuronline.com/index.html
KOL Report
KATHMANDU, June 6 & 7, 2001

http://www.kantipuronline.com/index.html