Nepal Govt under fire for curbing press freedom

Nepal’s Communist government today introduced a new criminal code that makes publishing confidential information, recording audio or taking pictures without permission a jailable offence, triggering concerns among activists and journalists that it could curb press freedom.

Lawyers and rights activists have warned that the Communist-led two third majority government, which has shown an “increasing intolerance for dissent”, could use the new laws to silence those criticising the Government.