(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES denounces the arrest of Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of the Nepali-language daily “Kantipur”, Kailash Sirohiya, managing director of “Kantipur” and the English-language publication “The Kathmandu Post”, and Binod Gyawali, director of both publications. The three journalists were arrested by plain-clothes police officers on 6 June 2001 at the newspaper’s offices and taken to […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES denounces the arrest of Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of the Nepali-language daily “Kantipur”, Kailash Sirohiya, managing director of “Kantipur” and
the English-language publication “The Kathmandu Post”, and Binod Gyawali, director of both publications.
The three journalists were arrested by plain-clothes police officers on 6 June 2001 at the newspaper’s offices and taken to the District Police Office at Hanuman Dhoka in the capital. They were charged with sedition for publishing an article by a Maoist rebel leader following the massacre of members of the Nepalese Royal family on 1 June.
In his article, Baburam Bhattarai, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), said that the deaths of King Birendra and nine other members of the royal family were a political conspiracy formed by the Indian intelligence agencies.
Currently, the editor and two directors are still held in detention by the Nepalese authorities. These journalists may be punished under Nepal’s treason law. According to the law, they could be jailed for three years and fined a sum of Rs. 3,000 (approx. US$40) or both.
The authorities have presented the three journalists to a special court, which is responsible for sedition and other state offences. On 12 June, the government’s lawyer heard explanations from the three media workers. A court hearing will take place on Friday 15 June.
Several protest rallies have taken place on the journalists’ behalf.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities
– noting that the arrests are a clear violation of press freedom and freedom of expression, in
in violation of Nepalese media laws
– calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the three journalists, in accordance with the principles of press freedom and freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990
– noting that Nepal has ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 of which guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression
– asking them to ensure that journalists have the freedom to practice their profession free of intimidation and harassment
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Girija Prasad Koirala
Prime Minister
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: +977 1 227286
Hon. Ram Chandra Poudel
Ministry of Home Affairs
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: + 977 1 225156
Mr. Prdip Shumshere Rana
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Police Headquarters
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: + 977 1 415593
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), GPO Box 21179, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal, Tel/Fax: +977 1 267374; e-mail: cehurdes@enet.com.net
