Freedom Forum is alarmed over Press Council Nepal, a media regulatory body's order to block an online news portal www.sagarmathadaily.com on June 10.
The letter issued to Nepal Telecommunications Authority requests the Authority to ban the website in Nepal because it is neither registered nor listed as per the Council's regulation and has been publishing misleading news.
Writing such letter requesting the ban of media is a gross violation of press freedom guaranteed by the constitution. No media can be banned merely for writing news. In case of the concern over news, other measures can be taken.
It is condemnable that the government authority Press Council Nepal has been repeatedly misused to suppress citizens' rights to freedom of expression and press freedom.
Therefore, FF requests Nepal Press Council to reconsider such alarming letter.
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Freedom Forum
Kathmandu