(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES expressed concern over the police action taken against newspapers and journalists, who were charged with being closely associated to the underground Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist), on 26 November 2001, in Kathmandu. On 26 November, the police raided the offices of “Janadesh Weekly”, “Janadisha Daily” and “Dishabodh Monthly” and seized press materials […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES expressed concern over the police action taken against newspapers and journalists, who were charged with being closely associated to the underground Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist), on 26 November 2001, in Kathmandu.
On 26 November, the police raided the offices of “Janadesh Weekly”, “Janadisha Daily” and “Dishabodh Monthly” and seized press materials and stationery from the publication houses. The plainclothes policemen also arrested editor Govinda Acharya, executive editor Khil Bahadur Bhandari, reporter Dipak Sapkota and computer operator Rambhakta Maharjan from the “Janadesh Weekly” office; executive editor Iswarchandra Gyawali and one unidentified journalist from “Dishabodh Monthly”; and editor Om Sharma and computer operator Dipak Mainali from “Janadisha Daily”. On 25 November, the police arrested Nim Bahadur Budhathoki, a computer operator from “Dishabodh Monthly”.
The journalists were arrested after a state of emergency was declared in the country. On the evening of 26 November, the Nepalese government declared a nationwide state of emergency in order to control the “people’s struggle” launched by the CPN in February 1996. The state of emergency suspends citizens’ fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to information. It also allows censorship over the publication of news items, articles and news materials.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– demanding that they provide a free and fair news reporting environment, even during a state of emergency
– calling on them to ensure the safety of the arrested journalists
– asking them to respect press freedom and freedom of expression
Appeals To
Rt. Hon. Sher Bahadur Deuwa
Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
Fax: +977 1 227286
Hon. Khum Bahadur Khadka
Minister for Home Affairs
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
Fax: +977 1 225156
Pradip Shumsher JB Rana
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Naxal, Kathmandu
Fax: +977 1 415593
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
