25 June 2002

Alert

CEHURDES welcomes the release of three journalists


Incident details

Bishnu Khanal, Liladhar Gautam, Khadananda Lamichanne



(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES welcomes the release of three journalists. According to the 24 June 2002 edition of www.kantipuronline.com, three journalists, editor Bishnu Khanal, executive editor Liladhar Gautam and Khadananda Lamichanne, all from "Surkhet Post", were recently released by the security forces. Approximately seven months ago, soon after the declaration of the "state of emergency", the journalists were arrested on charges of publishing news on Communist Party of Nepal (CPN, Maoist) rebels and detained in western Nepal. However, Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), the national news agency, reported that the Surkhet chief district officer stated the three men were released after a government employee and a local government representative said they would act as guarantors. The news agency gave no other details.




Following the declaration of a "state of emergency" in Nepal on 26 November 2001, the security forces have arrested more than 100 journalists. More than two dozen journalists remain in detention without formal charges or cases filed against them.

CEHURDES continues to urge authorities to respect press freedom and freedom of expression and ensure an impartial news reporting environment.





Source:

Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies


 

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CEHURDES expresses concern over continued attacks on journalists 30 November 2001

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