(RSF/IFEX) – As scores of political activists and journalists have just been released across the kingdom, Reporters Without Borders has urged the Nepalese government to free seven journalists who are still being held. At least 114 journalists were arrested while doing their jobs or taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations since 20 January 2006. Since 2004, […]
(RSF/IFEX) – As scores of political activists and journalists have just been released across the kingdom, Reporters Without Borders has urged the Nepalese government to free seven journalists who are still being held.
At least 114 journalists were arrested while doing their jobs or taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations since 20 January 2006. Since 2004, Nepal has arrested more journalists than any other country in the world.
“For the past few years, the Nepalese government has had the distressing tendency to jail journalists in massive numbers. To the knowledge of Reporters Without Borders, the authorities have never succeeded in proving their guilt. The seven journalists should be freed immediately.
“Whether they were arrested for their articles or for demonstrating for press freedom, their detention is abusive,” said the press freedom organisation.
Bheem Rai, of the weekly “Aujaar”, was arrested on 7 February 2006 in Dharan, eastern Nepal. During his arrest, his colleague Gopal Dewan was beaten by security forces. On the same day, JB Ghale Magar, local deputy chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), and Teekaram Ghimire, of the daily “Udghosh”, were arrested in Dhankuta district in the east.
Sudarshan Aacharya, of the weekly “White Paper”, and Bhaktadhwaj Bohara, an FNJ leader, were arrested by Kathmandu police on 24 January. Shyam Shrestha, of the opposition monthly “Mulyankan”, has been detained in the capital since 19 January. Finally, Tej Narayan Sapkota, of the weekly “Yojana”, has been imprisoned since November 2003.
Elsewhere, Reporters Without Borders has recorded new cases of the security forces carrying out assaults on journalists. On 13 February, Rabindra Shahi, journalist for “Dristi Weekly”, and an activist colleague with the human rights organisation INSEC, were beaten up by members of the military in Manma, Kalikot district in western Nepal. A police officer beat Suresh Koirala, correspondent for the daily “Saptahik Janasatta” in Bharatpur, central Nepal on 8 February.
