Nepal yesterday introduced a new criminal code that makes sharing confidential information a criminal offense, sparking concerns among journalists that the laws could be used to muzzle the press.
Media have warned that the communist-led government, which has shown an increasing intolerance for dissent, could use the vaguely worded code to silence critics.
The new laws make publishing private information, recording audio or taking pictures without permission punishable by up to three years in jail and a fine.
Publishing content that damages a person’s reputation directly or through satire is also subject to the same sentence.
“These general laws can be misused to silence journalists and discourage investigative reporting,” Federation of Nepalese Journalists president Govinda Acharya said.
Prominent political cartoonist Rajesh K.C. warned that the new laws mark a slide toward “authoritarianism.”
“Our work is to point out mistakes and abuses of those in power, but these laws can force self-censorship,” said K.C., whose satirical cartoons appear regularly in top newspapers. “This harms our democracy.”
The Kathmandu Post in an editorial called for the government to reconsider the laws, which are worded in a way that leaves “much room for interpretations” and could be used to prosecute journalists.
Nepal’s media industry has boomed since the monarchy was overthrown a decade ago following a brutal civil war, spawning dozens of newspapers and news channels.
A new constitution passed in 2015 enshrines the right to press freedom and bans censorship of news, which was common under the monarchy.
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