(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 21 September 2003, plainclothes security force personnel arrested journalist Navin Pun (also known as “Bivas”) in Kirtipur, Kathmandu. Pun is a member of the Nepal Indigenous Journalists’ Association (NIJA). Although he is a resident of Rangkot, Rolpa district, Pun is currently living in Dang. He is involved in literary activities and has […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 21 September 2003, plainclothes security force personnel arrested journalist Navin Pun (also known as “Bivas”) in Kirtipur, Kathmandu.
Pun is a member of the Nepal Indigenous Journalists’ Association (NIJA). Although he is a resident of Rangkot, Rolpa district, Pun is currently living in Dang. He is involved in literary activities and has published several collections of poems. Pun recently published an essay collection entitled “Einthan Pareka Ratharu” (“Dead Nights”), which covers an incident that took place in Dang during the “state of emergency” in 2002. Pun’s current whereabouts are unknown.
In a separate incident, on 21 September, security forces arrested Nawaraj Pahadi, an editor for the weekly “Antarang”, which is published in the Lamjung district (western Nepal). According to the daily “Space Time”, Pahadi was arrested on an allegation of publishing news reports about irregularities at the Middle Marsyangdi Hydro Power Project.
On the night of 21 September, the police also raided the home of an editor for the weekly “Lamjung Highlight”, as well as the homes of Krishna KC, a reporter for “Rajdhani Daily”, and Ganesh Pandey, a reporter for “Samacharpatra Daily”.
CEHURDES is outraged over the arrests and raiding of media workers’ homes and has called for disclosure of the whereabouts of all arrested journalists. The organisation has urged security force leaders to instruct their officials to stop all forms of harassment against journalists and respect human rights, press freedom and freedom of expression.
