(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 17 June 2004, Royal Nepal Army (RNA) officials assaulted journalist Subid Guragain in Sunsari district, eastern Nepal. Guragain is a local reporter for the daily “Rajdhani”, published in Kathmandu, and vice-chairperson of the Sunsari section of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ). The journalist published two separate news reports criticising the RNA […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 17 June 2004, Royal Nepal Army (RNA) officials assaulted journalist Subid Guragain in Sunsari district, eastern Nepal. Guragain is a local reporter for the daily “Rajdhani”, published in Kathmandu, and vice-chairperson of the Sunsari section of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ). The journalist published two separate news reports criticising the RNA for their alleged mistreatment of citizens. Guragain was detained for three hours at the Shree Meher Company headquarters. During his detention, he was severely beaten with gun butts and army boots and threatened with death.
CEHURDES condemns the assault and torture of Guragain. The organisation calls on the RNA chief to ensure journalists’ safety and take action as regards the officials who participated in the incident. CEHURDES further calls on all concerned parties to respect press freedom, freedom of expression and citizens’ civil liberties.
