On 25 June, a local journalist disappeared after three men came to see him; in a separate case, another journalist was harassed for reporting on vandalism.
(FNJ/IFEX) – On 25 July 2009 at approximately 11:30 p.m. (local time), a group of people approached the house of local journalist Shiva Oli, and asked the journalist to come along with them as they had to discuss a serious matter with him.
Shiva Oli agreed and went along with the group for the discussion. He has not been seen since that evening and his whereabouts are not known.
Shiva Oli’s wife, Laxmi Oli, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the local police station naming Yognedra Deuba, Mahendra Malla and Shovan Oli as the three people who came to the house and took her husband. Police detained the three men as per Laxmi Oli’s report.
All three have admitted going to Shiva Oli’s house and asking him to come with them for a discussion. They also informed the police that they had wanted to discuss a news story published a few days ago on the issue of corruption involving all three of them.
According to the three men, as the discussion was going on, Shiva Oli said he wanted to use the bathroom. The men further informed the police that he opened the door and went out of the house but did not come back again.
Shiva Oli has not returned home, nor has he contacted his relatives, friends, or his office.
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) is deeply concerned for the safety of journalist Shiva Oli. FNJ demands a proper investigation and urges the local authorities to make public his whereabouts as soon as they are known.
In another case, Bhusan Yadav, FNJ member and Nepal Television correspondent, was harassed by the locals in Inrwa of Birgunj on 25 July. Yadav was on duty collecting news of vandalism on petrol tankers by the locals when they threatened him and destroyed his photographs and equipment.
FNJ strongly regrets this act of harassment and demands an investigation into the case. FNJ feels that press freedom has been violated in this incident and demands that the guilty be punished and proper compensation be given for Yadav’s damaged camera.