(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 26 June 2004, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) rebels abducted journalist Dekendra Raj Thapa in Dailekh district, western Nepal. They also abducted Kamal Neupane, the secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ (FNJ) Dailekh section and editor of the local “Asala Shasan” bulletin. A Dailekh district reporter for the state-owned Radio Nepal, […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 26 June 2004, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) rebels abducted journalist Dekendra Raj Thapa in Dailekh district, western Nepal. They also abducted Kamal Neupane, the secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ (FNJ) Dailekh section and editor of the local “Asala Shasan” bulletin. A Dailekh district reporter for the state-owned Radio Nepal, Thapa was allegedly kidnapped for his reporting on financial irregularities in a local drinking-water project. Thapa is associated with the Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES), a non-governmental organisation, and has also been a member of the FNJ. Neupane was released after a brief interrogation. Thapa is still being held.
In a separate incident, plainclothes security force agents raided the Aishwarya Printing Press in Naradevi, Kathmandu, on 7 July, arresting the press’s owner, Bandhu Dev Pande, and seizing materials published prior to 1996. Pande’s whereabouts remain unknown. The press’s owner was also arrested in September 2003, but was released after a brief period of detention.
In another incident, unidentified assailants physically attacked Sunil Khadka, the publisher of the weekly “Nikash”, in Hetauda, Makawanpur district. The attackers threatened to obstruct publication of the newspaper. They also seized an audio recorder and various documents. Publication of the newspaper has been suspended since mid-May as a result of repeated threats.
CEHURDES condemns these attacks on journalists and media workers and urges the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and free expression activists. CEHURDES further calls on all parties concerned to respect press freedom, freedom of expression and citizens’ civil liberties.
