(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 30 January 2004, the security forces physically assaulted three journalists from the daily “Nepal Samacharpatra” in Kathmandu. Associate editor Tank Panta, reporter Ram Prasad Shrestha and photojournalist Naresh Poudel were beaten and verbally abused while covering a protest rally organised by five opposition political parties. A police officer also attempted to confiscate […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 30 January 2004, the security forces physically assaulted three journalists from the daily “Nepal Samacharpatra” in Kathmandu. Associate editor Tank Panta, reporter Ram Prasad Shrestha and photojournalist Naresh Poudel were beaten and verbally abused while covering a protest rally organised by five opposition political parties. A police officer also attempted to confiscate a cassette recorder from “Nepal Samacharpatra” journalist Saroj Dahal. The officer also warned the journalist against complaining about his behaviour.
In a separate incident, the Rajbiraj District Administration Office issued a charge sheet calling for the arrest of journalist Ashok Sharma. The charge is based on an article that appeared in the newspaper “Rajbiraj Today” on 19 January about kerosene price hikes on the local market.
CEHURDES condemns the security forces’ unacceptable behaviour towards journalists. The organisation calls upon the security forces to respect basic standards of press freedom and freedom of expression and allow journalists and free expression activists to carry out their work.
