Nepal

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has condemned the ongoing administrative intervention into the work of the media and media workers, in the name of implementing the “state of emergency” mandate. On 31 December 2001, the local administration in Kathmandu summoned editor-in-chief and publisher Pushkar Lal Shrestha and editor Kapil Kafle of “Nepal Samacharpatra”, a Nepali language daily. […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – According to the daily “Rajdhani”, ten pro-Maoist journalists were sent to the Bhadragol detention center in Kathmandu by the authorities. The detained journalists, who were arrested on 26 November, are: editor Govinda Acharya, executive editor Khil Bahadur Bhandari, reporter Dipak Sapkota, editorial assistant Dipendra Sapkota and a computer operator, Rambhakta Maharjan, all from […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Nepalese Minister of Information and Communications Jayprakash Prasad Gupta, RSF protested the twenty-four-hour detention of the directors of two Kathmandu publications. RSF is concerned about statements made by the minister, who used the publication of “objectionable” information as a justification for the arrests. “The state of emergency should not […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has repeatedly expressed its concern over the harassment of media by security personnel in their efforts to maintain peace and security and control terrorist activities. The security forces’ actions are taking place both within the mandate of the declared “state of emergency” and in a move to gag the press. On 17 […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – According to the “Kantipur Daily”, the local administration has released thirty-seven of thirty-eight journalists and other individuals who were taken into custody on Thursday 29 November 2001 in the western town of Butwal. The police had taken them into custody from a reception organised by High-Tech Publication Pvt. Ltd., which publishes the daily […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES is deeply shocked and concerned over the repeated police actions and abusive attitude against newspapers and journalists, nationwide, in the name of maintaining peace and security during the “emergency”. Newspapers have been raided and seized, and journalists have been arrested and charged, for being closely associated with the underground Communist Party of […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 29 November 2001 letter to Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPJ expressed concern over press freedom violations in Nepal during the recently declared State of Emergency. On 26 November, King Gyanendra declared a State of Emergency throughout the country in response to an upsurge of violence between Maoist rebels and […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES expressed concern over the police action taken against newspapers and journalists, who were charged with being closely associated to the underground Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist), on 26 November 2001, in Kathmandu. On 26 November, the police raided the offices of “Janadesh Weekly”, “Janadisha Daily” and “Dishabodh Monthly” and seized press materials […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The following is a CEHURDES press statement: CEHURDES Condemns Maoist Rebel Action Against Journalists Kathmandu, September 11 — The recent reports of journalists being detained in the mid-western district of Rolpa for more than seventy hours by Maoist rebels have drawn the attention of the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has condemned an extortion demand from the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN, Maoist). Despite the party’s public commitment against extortion, their “donation” collection spree continues unabated, especially in publication houses. According to “The Kathmandu Post” daily, two activists of the underground CPN came to the Kantipur Publication’s office on Monday 3 September […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The following is an 18 August 2001 CEHURDES press release: CEHURDES WELCOMES GOVERNMENT MOVE Kathmandu, August 18 — The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) welcomes His Majesty’s Government of Nepal’s decision to withdraw cases filed by it against the editor of the national daily Kantipur, Yubaraj Ghimire, and three publishers […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES welcomes the Supreme Court verdict in the case involving government directives over FM radio stations. The verdict is in line with constitutionally guaranteed press freedom and freedom of expression. On 26 July 2001, the special bench of the Supreme Court cancelled the government’s instruction to private FM stations. Justices Laxman Prasad Aryal, […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES is concerned over a police action taken against journalists on 15 July 2001, in Dang district. Twenty-four journalists were arrested by police and released the same day while they were travelling to Rolpa to report on Maoist activities. The ultra-left Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) launched a “people’s war” in February 1996. […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – The following is a CEHURDES news update: Following the release of the editor of the Nepali language Kantipur daily, Yuba Raj Ghimire (on bail), the managing director of Kantipur daily and the English language The Kathmandu Post, Kailash Sirohiya, and the director of both publications, Binod Gyawali (without bail), on June 15, 2001 […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is an 18 June 2001 CPJ press release: NEPAL: CPJ welcomes journalists’ release, but says sedition charges should be dropped New York, June 18, 2001 — Three journalists with the Nepali-language daily Kantipur, Yubaraj Ghimere, Kailash Shirohiya, and Binod Raj Gyawali, were released from jail on June 15. They face a […]

(CEHURDES/IFEX) – Three journalists – Yubaraj Ghimire, Kailash Sirohiya and Binod Gyawali – were released on Friday 15 June 2001 by order of the full bench of the Special Court, after spending ten days in detention. Ghimire was released on bail of Rs. 2,000 (approx. US$27). However, the court released Sirohiya and Gyawali without bail. […]