(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The following is an 18 August 2001 CEHURDES press release: CEHURDES WELCOMES GOVERNMENT MOVE Kathmandu, August 18 — The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) welcomes His Majesty’s Government of Nepal’s decision to withdraw cases filed by it against the editor of the national daily Kantipur, Yubaraj Ghimire, and three publishers […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The following is an 18 August 2001 CEHURDES press release:
CEHURDES WELCOMES GOVERNMENT MOVE
Kathmandu, August 18 — The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) welcomes His Majesty’s Government of Nepal’s decision to withdraw cases filed by it against the editor of the national daily Kantipur, Yubaraj Ghimire, and three publishers of Kantipur Publications – that brings out the daily.
Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta announced Friday [17 August] that the government had decided to withdraw charges of sedition that the state leveled against editor Ghimire, chairman and directors at the Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd. Hem Raj Gyawali, Binod Raj Gyawali and Kailash Sirohiya, respectively. Five days after the royal palace massacre in Nepal killing ten royal family members including King Birendra and Queen Aishworya, the government arrested Ghimire, Gyawali and Sirohiya on June 6 and kept them under detention for ten days for publishing an article by an underground Maoist leader, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
In his article, Dr. Bhattarai had blamed certain elements within the palace backed by the American and Indian intelligence agencies of being responsible for the massacre. The Special Court of Kathmandu later released all three on bail. Minister Gupta said the government took the decision as questions were being raised in national and international media regarding the status of press freedom in Nepal. “This is a welcome step,” said Ghimire after the government’s announcement. “This is a victory for all those who believe in press freedom and freedom of expression.” The government’s decision came less than a month after the change in government in Nepal.
CEHURDES hopes that the government will continue to honor the ideals of freedom of press and freedom of expression in the country in the days to come.
