Thursday, May 26, 2005

Concern expressed over looting of FM equipment

By A Staff Reporter
KATHMANDU, May 21: Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN) has raisedconcern and condemned the loot of broadcasting equipment from Ghodaghodi FMstation at Attaria of Kailali on Friday by a group calling themselvesMaoists.The station was dedicated to raising awareness among the backward communityof the Tharus and the loot has created a barrier in disseminating the newsand views to them, BAN press release stated.It said that community radio is established as a means to develop a societyand the Maoists' act has devoid the community from the reach of development,it said. Such condemnable attack on a community radio station is a productof authoritarian thought, it further said.BAN has also asked to return the equipment and stop such activities in thedays to come.Similarly, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) AsiaPacific Regional Office has also deplored the attack on the Ghodaghodi FMCommunity Radio Station.AMARK said that it was a direct attack on the people's right to freedom ofexpression, right to information and basic human rights. AMARK has alsoappealed to all parties to respect the rights of community radio stations,no harm be caused to community radio practitioners and allow them tocontinue informing their communities.http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?file=2005/05/22/topstories/main29

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