Nepal

Nepal is a country between India and China, having the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest. Its population is 28 million and the capital city is Kathmandu. The country has been under hereditary family rule for most of its history. After a ten year Maoist rebellion, especially in the poorer western part of the country, King Gyanendra lost most of his power in 2006. The Maoist rebels joined the government and at their insistence the monarchy is to be completely abolished in 2008.

Media
The BBC says of the country's media:


 * Civil conflict in Nepal, and the efforts to suppress it, have had a profound impact on the media. Rights groups say attacks on media workers were perpetrated by both sides during the 10-year Maoist rebellion. Press freedom suffered under the state of emergency invoked by King Gyanendra in 2005. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said Nepal accounted for half of the world's censorship cases in that year. It said more than 400 journalists had been arrested, attacked or threatened.


 * In May 2006 the new multi-party government eased some of the edicts. In 2007 Reporters Without Borders raised concerns about journalists in the south. It said communal violence had forced some reporters to flee. Media workers had been attacked, it added.

Leaders

 * King Gyanendra (Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev), King, in 2006 was forced to give up direct rule after long-term strikes, protests, and rebellion. Monarchy is to be abolished in 2008.
 * Girija Prasad Koirala, Prime minister, since 2006

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Media Services International
 * Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists
 * Radio Sagarmatha
 * War on NGOs

External articles

 * "Belgium defends arms sales to Nepal", BBC, August 26, 2002.

Videos

 * Aaron Goodman, "Nepal: Caught in the People's War", PBS/FrontLine, December 07, 2006. (21 mins)
 * Sachi Cunningham, "Nepal: A Girl's Life", PBS/FrontLine, June 07, 2007. (15 mins)

External resources

 * Profile: Nepal's King Gyanendra, BBC, May 2, 2006.
 * Nepal's reclusive Maoist leader, BBC, June 16, 2006.