(FNJ/IFEX) – The authorities have extended the detention of Shyam Shrestha, editor of “Mulyankan Weekly”, by another three months under the Public Security Act. Shrestha was arrested on 19 January 2006 by security forces at his residence, along with human rights activists and senior leaders of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), in an attempt to […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – The authorities have extended the detention of Shyam Shrestha, editor of “Mulyankan Weekly”, by another three months under the Public Security Act. Shrestha was arrested on 19 January 2006 by security forces at his residence, along with human rights activists and senior leaders of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), in an attempt to derail the SPA’s protest demonstration. Shrestha remains in detention at the No. 2 Post of the Armed Police Force at Maharajgunj. The authorities have also extended the detentions of Nepali Congress leader Narhari Acharya, human rights activist Krishna Pahadi, and civil society leaders Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey and Dr. Mathura Prasad Shrestha, by another three months.
In another incident, police beat BBC correspondent Narayan Karki and Nepal Television reporter Ramesh Poudel on 18 April at Pokhra while they were reporting on the democratic movement organized by the SPA.
The FNJ Nuwakot chapter president Biswamitra Khanal, who is also a Nepal Television reporter, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. (local time) on 19 April at Singadurbar. He was arrested while he was there covering the protest staged by employees and artists of Radio Nepal against the government. His equipment was also seized. Khanal is being detained at the District Police Office in Hanumandhoka.
In a separate development, the three journalists and a driver arrested on 18 April while reporting the demonstration by civil servants at Singadurbar were released on the evening of 18 April, after nine hours of detention. According to a press statement issued by Kantipur Publications, the arrested journalists were treated like criminals at the police office.
As well, new information about journalist Rajendra Gautam’s disappearance has come to light. Gautam, a journalist for “Jijibisha” monthly newspaper, was taken on 17 April at 11:00 a.m. from his home in Saatdobato, Lalitpur. A group of unidentified people came to his residence and took him with them in a taxi. His family members saw a police van near the taxi, so it is assumed that the unidentified people are related to the police. Gautam, 26 years old, is a journalist writing about the issues concerning Dalits [“untouchables”]. He has a wife and a daughter. His whereabouts are still unknown.
The FNJ condemns the extension of Shrestha’s detention. The FNJ also requests that the national and international media and human rights communities take immediate action to press for the disclosure of Gautam’s whereabouts, and strongly condemns the act of abducting a journalist. It has also asked the government to stop attacks on journalists performing their professional duties.
