(CEHURDES/IFEX) – According to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the authorities arrested at least 36 journalists on 9 August 2002. The journalists were protesting the arrests and abduction of journalists in different regions of the country. The FNJ further stated that the local administration in Chitwan detained 22 journalists who were taking part in […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – According to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the authorities arrested at least 36 journalists on 9 August 2002. The journalists were protesting the arrests and abduction of journalists in different regions of the country.
The FNJ further stated that the local administration in Chitwan detained 22 journalists who were taking part in a protest rally. The journalists were detained for an hour and a half and released. The protesting journalists’ banners and lanterns were confiscated. 16 other journalists were arrested in the eastern town of Itahari, during a meeting at the local FNJ branch office, after holding a protest rally. They were all released after spending one hour in detention.
The FNJ had organised a rally with burning lanterns, symbolising the search for justice in broad daylight. The FNJ has been carrying out a nationwide protest campaign over the past month, demanding the establishment of a judicial commission to probe into cases of arrests, torture and alleged deaths of journalists since the imposition of a state of emergency in the country in late November 2001.
Meanwhile, on 12 August, Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta told reporters in the capital city of Kathmandu that the government would release all detained journalists after conducting investigations. He said the government was also prepared to hold talks with the FNJ regarding its demands.
CEHURDES condemns the continued arrests of journalists and urges the authorities to provide a positive environment for impartial news reporting.
Background Information
Further to the imposition of a “state of emergency” in Nepal on 26 November 2001, more than 100 journalists have been arrested in different parts of the country. More than two dozen journalists remain in detention. Some journalists have reportedly been tortured, both physically and psychologically. Several detainees’ whereabouts are unknown. There have been no reports of official charges filed against any of the arrested journalists.
