(FNJ/IFEX) – Dhruva Kumar Rawal, secretary of FNJ Nuwakot branch and editor of the monthly “Gatishil”, and Raju Mitra Khanal, correspondent of the daily newspaper “Gorkhapatra” and sub editor of the weekly “Naya Ruprekha”, were harassed and detained for nearly 15 minutes by Maoists for having taken photographs of plain-clothed Maoists without their permission. The […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – Dhruva Kumar Rawal, secretary of FNJ Nuwakot branch and editor of the monthly “Gatishil”, and Raju Mitra Khanal, correspondent of the daily newspaper “Gorkhapatra” and sub editor of the weekly “Naya Ruprekha”, were harassed and detained for nearly 15 minutes by Maoists for having taken photographs of plain-clothed Maoists without their permission. The incident took place at around 2:30 p.m. (local time) on 24 August 2006.
The group of Maoists involved were heading towards a resting place in the Bidur municipality of Nuwakot, a central district of Nepal.
The two journalists were detained when they tried to photograph the group of 50 Maoists. Khanal said that he and Rawal were detained in the Maoists’ office for 15 minutes. Khanal said the Maoists’ district secretary, Jagat Jung, asked them to seek permission to take photographs or to cover any of the Maoists’ activities.
FNJ has condemned the incident, stating that the Maoists’ requirement that journalists obtain their permission before covering their activities is against press freedom. FNJ also urges the Maoists to refrain from threatening journalists.