(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 3 November 2003, security forces released journalist Madhav Bidrohi after five hours in detention. Bidrohi was arrested in Jhiljhile, while he was on his way from Birtamod to Damak, in Jhapa district. He was detained at the Char Aali Military Barrack. Bidrohi is the Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ (FNJ) Jhapa section president […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 3 November 2003, security forces released journalist Madhav Bidrohi after five hours in detention. Bidrohi was arrested in Jhiljhile, while he was on his way from Birtamod to Damak, in Jhapa district. He was detained at the Char Aali Military Barrack.
Bidrohi is the Federation of Nepalese Journalists’ (FNJ) Jhapa section president and works for the daily “Spacetime”. The security forces also confiscated his belongings.
In a separate incident on 4 November, security forces physically assaulted journalist Umesh Ojha at the main entrance to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Ojha is associated with the state-owned daily “Gorkhapatra”. Police Constable Binu Prasad Poudel pushed the journalist and threw his “press pass” to the ground. The press pass is issued by the government’s Department of Communications.
CEHURDES condemns the arrest and assault of the journalists. The organisation further urges the security forces and other government agencies to respect press freedom, freedom of expression and citizens’ fundamental rights.
