(FNJ/IFEX) – Maoists visited the residences of two journalists on 19 September 2006 in the journalists’ absence, and “enrolled” one journalist’s wife in the Maoist party, and a second journalist in a Maoist-aligned farmers’ organisation. In both cases, “enrolment” was done without the individuals’ consent, by issuing a receipt for membership that the individuals had […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – Maoists visited the residences of two journalists on 19 September 2006 in the journalists’ absence, and “enrolled” one journalist’s wife in the Maoist party, and a second journalist in a Maoist-aligned farmers’ organisation. In both cases, “enrolment” was done without the individuals’ consent, by issuing a receipt for membership that the individuals had not signed. The Maoists also ordered the journalists’ family members to cook for them.
According to the FNJ’s Nawalparasi branch, the wife of Shreeram Sigdel, Nawalparasi correspondent for “Annapurna Post” newspaper, was issued membership in the Maoist party. Hari Narayan Regmi, a Nawalparasi correspondent for Rastriya Samachar Samitte (RSS) national news agency, was issued membership in the All Nepal Farmer’s Association (Revolutionary), a Maoist-aligned organisation. They were issued the respective memberships by the Maoist party’s Nawalparasi area representative, Prakash.
The FNJ considers these incidents acts of intimidation because they infringe on the journalists’ rights, since the memberships were issued without the individuals’ consent.
The FNJ Nawalparasi branch is now holding talks with the Maoists to solve the issue. No other threats have been reported until now.
The FNJ has condemned the incidents, terming these acts severe violations of freedom of press and expression and of the code of conduct agreed upon after the cease fire which ended the national crisis earlier this year. The FNJ has urged the Maoists to fulfill their expressed commitments to press freedom and freedom of expression.