(RSF/IFEX) – On 17 August 1998, K. P. Gautam, a reporter for the state-run daily “Gorkhapatra”, was sentenced to five days in prison by Judge Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada of the Court of Kathmandu. The charges were filed after the 18 June publication of Mr. Gautam’s article entitled “Judges Absorb The Salaries Of Their Lowest Staff”. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 17 August 1998, K. P. Gautam, a reporter for the state-run
daily “Gorkhapatra”, was sentenced to five days in prison by Judge Ishwor
Prasad Khatiwada of the Court of Kathmandu. The charges were filed after the
18 June publication of Mr. Gautam’s article entitled “Judges Absorb The
Salaries Of Their Lowest Staff”. In his article, Gautam recounted the
details of a report on judicial corruption prepared by the Parliament
Economic Committee for the Auditor General’s Office. Coincidentally, Judge
Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada was one of the main figures accused of corruption in
the report.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Political Rights, Article 19 of which guarantees the freedom to inform and
to be informed
his
duty, and so urging them to ensure that the Nepalese press can freely report
on sensitive issues such as government corruption without the fear of
reprisal
Appeals To
His Excellency Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
Prime Minister’s Office
Singh Durbar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 01 228 200
Fax: +977 01 227 286Mr. Bamdev Gautam
Home Minister
Home Ministry
Singh Durbar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 01 228 801/228 812
Fax: +977 01 227 186/227 187
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
