Nepal Samacharpatra has had to stop publication after 12 years. This is a gross violation of the press freedom stipulated in the constitution. Freedom of expression is a part of democracy and so are the differences of opinion among newspapers. It would be very wrong if the reason for closing down Nepal Samacharpatra was for vengeance, or for a role that a newspaper might have played in the past.

Newspapers are carriers of news and views, and just stopping their publication cannot hide the truth. Obstructing independent journalism is a betrayal of democratic norms and values and cannot be justified in any way.

To complicate matters, this has happened while the Maoists hold the information and communications portfolio. That a Maoist-affiliated labour group is involved in the current crisis sends out negative signs of a party that harbours dictatorial intentions. Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara needs to urgently make a positive intervention. Such incidents negate the Maoists' commitment to peace, democracy, and development. The Nepali media is concerned that such incidents will become a pattern.

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