(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) – a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group – condemns the government’s various recent acts of intimidation against journalists. CEHURDES also condemns the attacks on the office of a pro-government media organization and the vehicle of a newspaper. On 26 January, the local administration […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) – a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group – condemns the government’s various recent acts of intimidation against journalists. CEHURDES also condemns the attacks on the office of a pro-government media organization and the vehicle of a newspaper.
On 26 January, the local administration of Parsa district issued an order to detain Shiva Patel, editor of the weekly “Madhesh Darpan,” published from the southern town of Birgunj, and Prabhu Hajara, a Birgunj-based correspondent of the weekly “Dristi,” published from Kathmandu, for a period of 90 days. Both were picked up from their residences that same day. Both Patel and Hajara are known for writing and reporting critically on local as well as national political issues, including the royal takeover of 2005.
In Kathmandu, police detained Bhimsen Rajbahak, publisher of the weekly “Budhabar,” also on 26 January and released him after nearly eleven hours. He was covering the general strike called by the opposition parties when he was taken into custody.
In Nuwakot district, police detained freelance journalist Shiva Devkota for nearly three hours while he was covering the strike. Devkota is also the chairman of the Nuwakot district unit of the Nepal Press Union.
On the same day, a group of persons vandalized the vehicle belonging to the daily “Annapurna Post” in Bhaktapur as it was being driven back to Kathmandu after completing a delivery of newspapers. The vehicle was damaged and the driver, Pradip Lama, and his helper, Prithvi Bahadur Thapa, sustained injuries.
In yet another incident, Rastriya Patrakar Mahasangha, Nepal (RPMN) – a pro-government media group – has said opposition activists vandalized its Narayangadh-based branch office in Chitwan district, also on 26 January.
CEHURDES has noted all these incidences with concern and condemns the detention of journalists and the attacks on media vehicles and offices.
CEHURDES believes that Patel and Hajara were detained under the Public Security Act with the intention to intimidate and harass them. CEHURDES is concerned about their safety and demands that both be freed immediately from their illegal detention.
CEHURDES also condemns the brief detention of Rajbahak and Devkota. We urge the authorities not to repeat such actions in future and to no longer target media personnel under any pretext.
CEHURDES also condemns the attack on the “Annapurna Post” vehicle, driver and assistant and the attack on the office of RPMN. CEHURDES demands that the government discover the culprits in both incidences and bring them to trial. CEHURDES would like to recall that it is the duty of the government to ensure safety of journalists and security to media property.
CEHURDES also urges all political activists to not target media personnel or media property, regardless of the perspective those media may present.
