(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES is shocked over the news that journalist Gopal Budhathoki was kidnapped and condemns similar actions undertaken by any group for whatever reason. On the night of 3 March 2002, Budhathoki, publisher and editor of the weekly “Sanghu”, was kidnapped by unidentified individuals in Kathmandu. On 6 March, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES is shocked over the news that journalist Gopal Budhathoki was kidnapped and condemns similar actions undertaken by any group for whatever reason.
On the night of 3 March 2002, Budhathoki, publisher and editor of the weekly “Sanghu”, was kidnapped by unidentified individuals in Kathmandu. On 6 March, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, while making a statement of public importance in parliament, confirmed that Budhathoki had been arrested by security forces.
According to Prime Minister Deuba, Budhathoki was arrested after the newspaper repeatedly published malicious reports about the security forces. On 26 November 2001, a state of emergency was declared to contain a Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) insurgency. Subsequently, Budhathoki was arrested by security forces on 17 December for questioning and released twenty-four hours later.
CEHURDES asks the authorities to stop the repeated harassment of journalists. CEHURDES also calls for a free and fair news reporting environment that is respectful of press freedom, freedom of expression and one’s fundamental human rights.
