Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 5 February 2004, customs officials in Tatopani, Sindhupalchowk district, at the Nepal-China border physically assaulted journalist Pabitra Kumar Khadka, who is associated with the Tatopani-based weekly “Ghatana Ra Bichar”. Khadka was attacked for publishing a report about irregularities committed by certain customs officials in the region. In addition, an unidentified person threatened […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 1 February 2004, police officers forcefully entered the Kathmandu offices of the weekly “Drishti” and assaulted reporter Saroj Adhikari and computer operators Kedar Adhikari and Ram Krishna Rana. The officers also caused damages to the office premises. They claimed to be pursuing protestors who had earlier taken part in a demonstration against […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 30 January 2004, the security forces physically assaulted three journalists from the daily “Nepal Samacharpatra” in Kathmandu. Associate editor Tank Panta, reporter Ram Prasad Shrestha and photojournalist Naresh Poudel were beaten and verbally abused while covering a protest rally organised by five opposition political parties. A police officer also attempted to confiscate […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 26 January 2004, the security forces released journalist Balbhadra Bharati after having held him for two days in Surkhet district. Bharati is a correspondent for the Kathmandu-based weekly “Jana Ekta”. He is also an adviser for the Progressive Writers’ Association. He was arrested on 24 January at his Surkhet residence, immediately after […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 6 January 2004, the security forces assaulted journalists Bal Ram Baniya, Ghana Shyam Ojha, Ajaya Siwakoti, Rohit Dahal, Sita Ram Parajuli and Prabin Dhakal in Ratna Park, Kathmandu. The journalists were brutally beaten while they were gathering information on a protest rally against the king’s assumption of executive power, which took place […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 5 January 2004, the security forces arrested Rabindra Shah, editor of the weekly “Biswo Jagaran”, in Janakpur, Dhanusha district. Shah’s whereabouts are currently unknown. In a separate incident, on 2 January, the security forces arrested journalist Maheswor Pahari in Pokhara, Kaski district. Pahari is associated with the weekly “Swabhivan”, which is published […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 19 December 2003, plainclothes security personnel arrested journalist Marika Poudel from the office of Nepal One television station, which operates out of New Delhi, India. A news report said that the security personnel detained Poudel in order to interrogate him and gave assurances that he would be released. Poudel is a Nepal […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – Ram Krishna Adhikari, a reporter for the weekly “Saghu”, has been missing since 10 December 2003. He was last seen attending a human rights event organised by the Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON), at the Hotel Orchid in Kathmandu. According to the weekly’s editor, Gopal Budhathoki, the journalist may have been detained […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 3 December 2003, the security forces arrested Bhai Kaji Ghimire, managing director of “Samadristi” monthly magazine, based in Kalimati, Kathmandu. The incident occurred while Ghimire was heading to work on his motorcycle. According to a statement issued by his wife, Pumpha Ghimire, the journalist’s whereabouts remain unknown. In a separate incident, on […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 22 November 2003, security forces released journalist Navin Pun (also known as “Bivas”) after two months of detention. Pun lives in the Dang district. He is associated with the Indigenous Journalists’ Association and is also the editor of “Adibasi Forum” and “Aakhijhyal” magazines, which are published in Dang, and a columnist for […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – Dhana Bahadur Magar, a Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Central Council member and secretary of the FNJ’s Kathmandu section, has been missing since 18 November 2003. According to FNJ Kathmandu Section President Hari Lamsal, Magar was last seen going shopping for stationery at about 3:15 p.m. (local time) that day. His whereabouts remain […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 13 November 2003, the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) arrested and detained journalist Sharad Adhikari in Ghorahi, Dang district (western Nepal). RNA personnel arrested Adhikari at about 8:30 a.m. (local time) at his Ghorahi residence. He was blindfolded and taken away in a white Jeep, which was parked about 500 metres from his […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 13 November 2003, Royal Nepal Army personnel interrogated Babita Basnet, editor of the weekly “Ghatana Ra Bichar”, for approximately one-and-a-half hours. The security forces asked her about a news report on Lieutenant General Bibek Kumar Shah in the weekly’s 12 November edition. King Gyanendra reportedly dismissed Shah from his position as military […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 8 November 2003, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) rebels expelled reporters Ishori Neupane and Kishor Jung Thapa, of “The Kathmandu Post” daily and “Gorkhapatra Daily”, from their Khanibaas stronghold area, in northern Gorkha. Neupane and Thapa had been travelling to cover the Maoist insurgency, social issues and the tourism business in the […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 9 November 2003, security forces searched reporter Shahi Man Rai’s personal belongings and confiscated documents related to rebel activity in Bhojpur district, eastern Nepal. Rai is based in Khotang and works for Kantipur Publications. According to “The Kathmandu Post” daily, security personnel searched the hotel room where the reporter was staying and […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 3 November 2003, security forces released journalist Madhav Bidrohi after five hours in detention. Bidrohi was arrested in Jhiljhile, while he was on his way from Birtamod to Damak, in Jhapa district. He was detained at the Char Aali Military Barrack. Bidrohi is the Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ (FNJ) Jhapa section president […]