(RSF/IFEX) – On 19 January 1998, Ashok Subedi, editor of the Nepal weekly “Naulo Bihani”, was arrested in Ramechchap. On 20 January, Matrika Pakhrel, editor of the literary quarterly “Bedana”, was arrested in the district of Udaypur district (central Nepal). Both have been charged with participating in Maoist activities, a charge their newspapers have denied. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 19 January 1998, Ashok Subedi, editor of the Nepal weekly
“Naulo Bihani”, was arrested in Ramechchap. On 20 January, Matrika Pakhrel,
editor of the literary quarterly “Bedana”, was arrested in the district of
Udaypur district (central Nepal). Both have been charged with participating
in Maoist activities, a charge their newspapers have denied. Another
journalist, Shankar Tanpa, correspondent for the weekly “Naw Aawaj” in
Janakpurdham, was jailed on 7 January after reporting that “corruption was
going on in the Janakpur area under the protection of the law”. His press
accreditation has been cancelled, and he is believed to have been beaten by
police. He is still being detained “incommunicado” at Jaleswor prison.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
journalists are freed as soon as possible and that, if they are prosecuted,
they are given a fair trial
Appeals To
His Excellency Surya Bahadur Thapa
Office of the Prime Minister
Katmandu
Nepal
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
