Nepal gags army criticism, to form peace talks panel

The new regime also announced its plan to set up a committee to hold unconditional talks with the Left-wing extremists.“The government is going to form a committee that will hold a dialogue with the Maoists soon,’’ Nepalese Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Buddiraj Bajracharya said.

A government notification broadcast on state media said any public comments made ‘‘directly or indirectly’’ about security forces ‘‘that is likely to have negative impact’’ have been banned and violators could be arrested.

Since the imposition of censorship after the seizure of power, some newspapers here have been criticising the monarchy in a subtle manner.

One such editorial in the Nepali Times weekly talks about trees being cut down, a metaphor for a gagged press. The article goes on to say how trees allow people to breathe freely, and how their roots hold the soil together and the need to ‘‘bring back greenery’’.

Banning political activities by public servants, the government said it could seize private property when necessary.