According to a source at NTV, the government became concerned over live broadcast of the mass rally of 22 opposition parties last Friday and the coverage of opposition protests against moves to promulgate laws through ordinance. [break]
The source told Republica that the government has sought verbal clarifications from General Manager Dipak Mani Dhital and Director Rajendra Dev Acharya, and is considering sacking Dhital. The two were even compelled to appear before the prime minister, the source said.
According to the source, Minister for Information and Communications Raj Kishor Yadav had initially objected to plans for live broadcast of the opposition rally but relented after the management argued that the channel should exercise fairness as it had earlier broadcast live an interaction of the ruling parties.
Despite this, Shiva Adhikari of the Communications Ministry exerted pressure from that quarter. Information and Communications Secretary Avanindra Shrestha also objected to the live coverage.
NTV management, however, went ahead with the broadcast.
As pressure on management continued, the organizations of NTV journalists and other employees jointly denounced the government move. They wrote to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai protesting such a move, according to Laxman Humangain, vice president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists NTV chapter.
As government pressure mounted, four organizations of journalists and employees jointly condemned the move to "gag freedom of expression and people´s right to information", writing separate letters to the prime minister, the information minister and the information secretary.
"We have written to the prime minister that it is up to the management to decide the content and programs for broadcast and any external interference in this regard is unacceptable," said Humagain.
They also demanded the government ensure the autonomy of the television channel and not exert pressure again over NTV coverage.
"No media in the 21st century can be run as during the king´s direct rule and the Panchayat system. If anyone pressures us in that fashion, we will retaliate," warned Humagain, "We condemn any autocratic activities of a government that claims to be democratic."
The development comes a week after the government sought written clarifications from Image Radio, a private radio station, over a program it broadcast.
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