In August, a judge sentenced a journalist to five days in prison over an article recounting the details of a report on judicial corruption prepared by the Parliament Economic Committee for the auditor general s office. The government owns the sole television station and the influential Radio Nepal. Political coverage on the state broadcast media favors the party in power, which is a key issue in a largely illiterate society where people depend on radio for their news. The first private FM radio station, Radio Sagarmartha, began broadcasting in March. Successive governments have restricted public criticism of China s occupation of Tibet and Indian abuses in Kashmir.
Nongovernmental organizations are active and operate freely.
Although the constitution describes Nepal as a Hindu kingdom, the true religious breakdown is unknown. Low-caste Hindus and ethnic minorities face discrimination in the civil service, courts, and government institutions. Property and divorce laws discriminate against women. In addition, women rarely receive the same educational opportunities as men due to early ages of marriage and entry into the workforce. Although the incoming Koirala government in April included the country s first female deputy premier, women are generally underrepresented in government and the civil service.