(IFJ/IFEX) – In a 12 November 2002 letter to Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, the IFJ expressed its deep concern about the fate of journalist Tika Ram Rai, editor of the daily “Aparanha”. According to the IFJ’s information, on 9 November, the newspaper published a story concerning corruption in the police department and implicated the […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – In a 12 November 2002 letter to Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, the IFJ expressed its deep concern about the fate of journalist Tika Ram Rai, editor of the daily “Aparanha”.
According to the IFJ’s information, on 9 November, the newspaper published a story concerning corruption in the police department and implicated the senior superintendent of police, Basanta Kunwar. On 12 November, Rai was arrested at his office.
Background Information
Following the declaration of a state of emergency in Nepal on 26 November 2001, more than 100 journalists were arrested in different parts of the country by the security forces. Two journalists have been killed and more than two dozen journalists remain in detention.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling on them to guarantee press freedom
– urging them to ensure the safety of all journalists working in Nepal
– asking them to release the journalists that have been imprisoned in connection with their work
Appeals To
Rt. Hon. Lokendra Bahadur Chand
Prime Minister
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: +977 1 22 62 86 / 977 1 22 77 65
E-mail: info@pmo.gov.np
Hon. Dharma Bahadur Thapa
Minister for Home Affairs, HMG/Nepal
Fax: +977 1 22 81 66
E-mail: homehmg@wlink.com.np
Pradip Shumsher JBR
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Fax: +977 1 41 55 93
E-mail: igpa@wlink.com.np or phqcs1@vishnu.ccsl.com.np
Nayan Bahadur Khatri
Chairman, Nepal Human Rights Commission
Fax: +977 1 54 79 73
E-mail: nhrc@ntc.net.np
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
