(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) – a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group – condemns the police attacks against, and detention of, dozens of journalists across the country. On 1 February, police detained 31 journalists who were participating in a peaceful demonstration in the Bhotahity neighbourhood of the capital, […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) – a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group – condemns the police attacks against, and detention of, dozens of journalists across the country.
On 1 February, police detained 31 journalists who were participating in a peaceful demonstration in the Bhotahity neighbourhood of the capital, Kathmandu. Police used water cannons and charged with batons to disperse the demonstration. Cartoonist Ramesh Bista and journalist Ujir Magar, both of the daily “Kantipur”, as well as journalist Ramhari Silwal, were among those injured during the police action. Police also accosted senior journalists Harihar Birahi, the former president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), and Kanak Mani Dixit, editor of “Himal South Asian” magazine, among others.
On the same day, 23 journalists were detained in the city of Chandragadhi, in the eastern district of Jhapa, while six more were detained while taking part in a peaceful demonstration in the eastern district of Dhankuta. Five more journalists were detained in central district of Dolakha.
In the eastern town of Rajbiraj, police detained Dilli Ram Khatiwada, a reporter with “Kantipur”, while he was covering pro-democracy protests. In the southern district of Bara, Nilesh Timilsena, a reporter with the newspaper “Kalaiya Today”, was injured when assaulted by police
According to latest reports, all the journalists detained during Wednesday’s demonstrations have been freed.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) had called its members to observe February 1 as “Black Day” in commemoration of the royal takeover in February 2005.
In a separate incident, the FM radio station “Paschimanchal”, located in the western district of Palpa, was damaged during overnight clashes between national security forces and Maoist rebels on 31 January. The station has discontinued its transmissions.
CEHURDES condemns the assaults upon and detention of journalists across the country, as they were taking part in peaceful demonstrations calling for the restoration of full press freedom in the country on 1 February. CEHURDES calls upon the authorities to respect, under all circumstances, the people’s right to peaceful assembly and expression. CEHURDES is of the view that the detention by the royal government of journalists, human rights activists, professionals and pro-democracy activists, while these are engaged in peaceful demonstrations, constitutes a clear violation of the rights guaranteed by the country’s constitution.
CEHURDES demands the immediate release of all detained journalists, activists and professionals from illegal detention. CEHURDES also calls upon the combatants in the Nepali conflict not to use, or to target, media facilities under any pretext.
CEHURDES believes that a military solution is not possible to the ten-year-old armed conflict that has already claimed over 12,000 lives, and urges both the government and the rebels to cease hostilities and to pursue a negotiated settlement.
