Nepal's Maoists accused of curbing free speech - 13 Jul 08

Nepal's newly-elected Maoist government is facing accusations that it's trying to use the national media as its mouthpiece.

The Maoists deny the allegations.

But as Subina Shrestha reports, some people are worried that free speech IS being threatened, just as the country takes its first steps towards true democracy.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Al
• Jazeera
• aljazeera
• Nepal
• government
• Maoists
• free
• media

[nickvanzetti]

i hate the 500 character limit. no wonder people just respond with dogma slogans and insults and death threats. we cant even have a decent dialogue here. talk about freedom of speech?!?!?!

[milanrai89]

maoist r nothing but a terrorist and the blood sucker......has anyone saw the video of ....prachanda.....he should be ..stoned to death........for illuding the innocent nepali ppl

[machicniii]

@acerb45666555 what a fucking dumbass. 3 years later , EPIC FAIL.

[machicniii]

@milanrai89 ta machikne ko buddhi herna...

[machicniii]

look at these dumbass comments saying maoists want to kill hinduism, are for atheism, blah blah. what are you idiots doing here? the people of nepal dont think that way. this isnt 'usa' where if your president doesnt believe in god, everybodies like *gasp* ahhh the devil!!! why even mention that shit? isnt it obvious there are trolls around who have agendas. these people's agendas are to hate on communism. support american style 'democracy'. democracy? in america? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA

[Skoda130]

"Objective propaganda"?

[TheRhythmCollection]

@ProtestantsRUs Is that a bad thing now?

[radmilitant]

Awesome I didnt realize how deep the revolution in Nepal is going! Now they're liberating media! These are exciting times for Nepali people.

[moonlightonariver]

I sincerely hope that they will make better films than the movies that have been made in the past by other directors... Go Maoists change the face of Nepali film industry everybody will support you if you are sincere !!!

[ProtestantsRUs]

The Maoists do not fight for anything other than atheism...

[PavedStones]

The bulk of the news media should be under cooperative ownership of the employees and of a readers' or viewers' association, and run as a non-profit organization. Only then can the media really represent a point of view from the people and cease to be the propaganda arm of either the rich class or the state. The media should be in the people's hands, independent from BOTH the centers of political power and of private economic power, otherwise the free press is a joke.

[PavedStones]

It should be understood though that the media is not 'free' and 'independent' from power when it is owned and run by rich people well connected to the government or by huge corporations, and when it relies on advertisement from other corporations as it main source of income. This kind of 'free press' is not 'free', it just systematically promotes the interests of the wealthy and powerful.