Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The government and Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) held talks on 22 August 2002 regarding the demands put forward by the FNJ. During the meeting, Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka assured the FNJ that the government planned to make public details of the situation of 22 journalists who are presently behind bars, in […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The following is a 22 August 2002 CEHURDES press statement: The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) condemns the brutal murder of Nava Raj Sharma, editor of “Kadam” weekly, published in the remote northern district of Kalikot. Maoist insurgents abducted Sharma on June 1, 2002 at Syuna VDC, in the district. […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – According to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the authorities arrested at least 36 journalists on 9 August 2002. The journalists were protesting the arrests and abduction of journalists in different regions of the country. The FNJ further stated that the local administration in Chitwan detained 22 journalists who were taking part in […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 6 August 2002 at 11:00 a.m. (local time), security forces arrested journalist Hari Prasad Regmi, in Kalanki, Kathmandu. Regmi is a reporter for the weeklies “Sanghu” and “Jana Bhabana”. After 54 hours in detention, he was released under his wife’s supervision. According to “Sanghu” sources, Regmi was held at the Balaju Army […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 4 August 2002, the police arrested Kishor Shrestha, editor of the weekly “Jana Astha”, and Bishnu Ghimire, editor of the weekly “Jana Prahar”. They were charged with publishing “malicious and defamatory news reports” and released 24 hours later. Police sources said that Shrestha was released from the Hanumandhoka Police Station in Kathmandu […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 1 August 2002, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN, Maoist) rebels abducted Dhan Bahadur Rokka Magar from a bus, while he was traveling in Jaluke, a place which borders the Rolpa and Pyuthan districts in mid-western Nepal. Magar is a news reader in the Kham Magar language and works in the Surkhet station […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 19 July 2002, plainclothes security officers arrested pro-Maoist journalist Dhana Bahadur Gurung, secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ (FNJ) Kathmandu Section, at his office in Dilli Bazar. Gurung was working as a photojournalist and reporter for the pro-Maoist weekly “Janadesh” before its closure and is also an FNJ Council member. Gurung’s […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 11 July 2002, police in the Indian capital of New Delhi took four Nepalese citizens into custody, including three journalists, on charges of assisting Maoist rebels. According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report, those arrested include journalists working for “Nepali Awaj” (“Voice of the Nepalese”) newspaper, which is published in New Delhi. […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has raised its serious concern over the Nepalese government’s recently formed “Probe Committee” to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged “disappearance” of journalist Krishna Sen, under the direction of Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary Sushil Jung Bahadur Rana. CEHURDES does not believe that the commission, under its current structure, will be […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 25 June 2002, three unknown assailants manhandled Taranath Dahal, Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) president, at his home in Bhaktapur. According to Dahal, the assault was premeditated but he is unaware of the reasons behind it. Moreover, Dahal noted that on the evening of 25 June three unidentified drunk individuals came asking […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES welcomes the release of three journalists. According to the 24 June 2002 edition of www.kantipuronline.com, three journalists, editor Bishnu Khanal, executive editor Liladhar Gautam and Khadananda Lamichanne, all from “Surkhet Post”, were recently released by the security forces. Approximately seven months ago, soon after the declaration of the “state of emergency”, the […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES denounces the arrest of Krishna Prasad Gautam “Maila”, publisher of the publication “Chandeswari”. Security forces arrested Gautam on 2 June 2002 in Kathmandu. According to Ram Chandra Neupane, editor of “Janasatta” weekly and “Prabhatkalin” daily, Gautam was taken to the District Police Office in Hanumandhoka. He was kept in detention but was […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 21 May 2002, security forces arrested three journalists in Kathmandu on charges of being allied with Maoist rebels. The three journalists are Krishna Sen, editor-in-chief of the vernacular daily “Janadisha” and central representative for the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Aatindra Neupane, correspondent for the daily “Janadisha”, and Sangeeta Khadka, correspondent for […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The following is a 3 May 2002 CEHURDES press release: Situation of Journalists and Media Freedom The Nepalese year 2057 (mid-April 2001 to mid April 2002) was extremely tragic for all Nepalese. From the viewpoint of media freedom, as well, the year was seen as the worst in recent years. Hundreds of journalists […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES condemns the ongoing harassment of journalists. Furthermore, CEHURDES continues to urge the authorities to respect the universal mandates of press freedom and freedom of expression and ensure an impartial news reporting environment. On 29 April 2002, the police raided the offices of Shrinkhala Offset Press in New Baneswore, Kathmandu, without a warrant. […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES condemns the ongoing arrest of journalists but at the same time welcomes the release of one journalist. Furthermore, CEHURDES urges the authorities to ensure that the detained journalists are tried fairly and to respect the universal mandates of press freedom and freedom of expression, as well as fundamental human rights guaranteed by […]