(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES condemns the targeted attack by a section of protesters staging demonstrations in the eastern region of Terai in Nepal during the latter half of January 2007 (see IFEX alert of 26 and 22 January 2007). On 28 January, protesters in Birgunj city targeted media houses and reporters. According to the “Kantipur” daily […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES condemns the targeted attack by a section of protesters staging demonstrations in the eastern region of Terai in Nepal during the latter half of January 2007 (see IFEX alert of 26 and 22 January 2007).
On 28 January, protesters in Birgunj city targeted media houses and reporters. According to the “Kantipur” daily newspaper, the protesters even went around the city looking for particular journalists belonging to Kantipur publications, the biggest media house in the country.
On the same day, a section of protesters vandalized the offices of Radio Birgunj. Targeting the FM station, they set fire to a generator as well as to four motorcycles belonging to station staff. According to Dipendra Chauhan, a news coordinator with the station, the protesters continued to rampage through the station for 15 minutes, obstructing its ability to broadcast.
It was only after police arrived that the protesters fled. They also unsuccessfully tried to attack the offices of the radio station Narayani FM, and the Parsa chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ).
The mob not only tried to attack media houses but also physically beat some reporters. A photojournalist by the name of Ram Sharraf had to be rushed to hospital after he was badly beaten by the mob. Other beaten journalists who were identified were Dhruba Shah and Bhuwan Jha.
Shocked by the sudden burst of targeted attacks on members of the media community, editors of daily newspapers in Birgunj decided to stop publishing their newspapers from 30 January. They asked the demonstrators to apologize and compensate them for the damages caused.
In the Terai district of Rautahat, Shiva Puri, a journalist working for “Kantipur” daily, was threatened by a protester called Ram Krishna Gupta. Puri was told he would be killed if he did not publish news favourable to the demonstrators.
For the past two weeks, parts of eastern and central Terai (also known as Madhes region) have been experiencing violent unrest triggered by a movement launched by the little-known Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). The forum had called for the protests to demand the amendment of the interim constitution to introduce provisions on federalism and a new delimitation of electoral constituencies based on population.
Nearly one-half of Nepal’s population resides in the plains region known as Terai. The people of Terai have said that they are suffering from discriminatory policies of the central government. Although many political parties and organizations support the demands raised by MJF, they have been taken aback by the violent methods of the protests, which have paralyzed the entire eastern and central Terai. Some parties have also said there could be infiltration (in these MJF protests) by reactionaries who are opposed to recent changes occurring in Nepal.
CEHURDES condemns the flagrant attack against media houses and journalists. The attacks against radio stations are aimed at gagging the growing professionalism of community radio services. Likewise, the selected attacks against journalists are aimed at subduing press freedom and freedom of expression. CEHURDES also expresses concern about the targeting of media by the activists of MJF – despite its public proclamation that its movement is opposed to media freedom. CEHURDES asks the MJF to pursue a peaceful path and refrain from attacking media. The CEHURDES wants to draw the attention of all concerned toward the urgent need of protecting and promoting press freedom.
