(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 26 December 2004, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) rebels released journalists J. Pandey and Shivani Singh Tharu, in Achham district, western Nepal. Pandey and Tharu were abducted by rebels from the Binayak Village Development Committee, Achham district, on 17 December. Pandey was accompanying Tharu, who was travelling in the area to gather […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 26 December 2004, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) rebels released journalists J. Pandey and Shivani Singh Tharu, in Achham district, western Nepal. Pandey and Tharu were abducted by rebels from the Binayak Village Development Committee, Achham district, on 17 December. Pandey was accompanying Tharu, who was travelling in the area to gather information for her Masters thesis. Tharu works for the state-owned Nepal Television. During their eight days in captivity, the rebels threatened to kill Pandey and Tharu, accusing Tharu of being a government intelligence officer and travelling in the region as a spy.
In a separate incident, on 26 December 2004, a CPN-Maoist district secretary threatened to physically harm journalist Baidya Nath Yadav, in Saptari district, eastern Nepal. A publisher and editor for the local weekly “Janajagarn”, Yadav was accused of having published news reports about the CPN-Maoist rebels’ leadership changes. The rebels had previously threatened Yadav’s wife when they were unable to find him.
CEHURDES condemns the abductions and threats against journalists. The organisation urges the rebels’ leaders to stop all forms of attacks on journalists and to respect press freedom and freedom of expression.
