(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES expresses grave concern over death threats issued to a journalist working in far western Nepal. On 26 March 2007, a Maoist cadre named “Prem” threatened journalist Khem Bhandari on the basis of a news story he wrote about Maoists trying to force compensation from contractors of a local bridge. Bhandari is the […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES expresses grave concern over death threats issued to a journalist working in far western Nepal.
On 26 March 2007, a Maoist cadre named “Prem” threatened journalist Khem Bhandari on the basis of a news story he wrote about Maoists trying to force compensation from contractors of a local bridge.
Bhandari is the editor of “Abhiyan”, a daily published in the far western town of Mahendranagar, in Kanchanpur district. Reports say Prem is the Kanchanpur district commander of the Young Communist League (YCL) – a youth wing of the Maoists.
In a separate case, in the eastern town of Biratnagar, a hitherto unknown group called National Defense Army (NDA) hurled a socket bomb at the office of Kantipur Publications. However, the bomb did not explode and was later defused by police.
In recent months, the organisation claiming to be NDA has detonated crude bombs at the offices of political parties in the eastern region of the country. The NDA has apparently demanded that Nepal be restored to a Hindu state. An 18 May 2006 parliamentary declaration established Nepal as a secular nation, before which the country had been considered a Hindu kingdom.
CEHURDES condemns the targeted attack against media personnel and media outlets. The organisation calls on the Maoist leadership to abide by their commitments towards respecting press freedom and to control their cadres. CEHURDES also urges all organisations to refrain from attacking the press and instead put forth their demands and grievances in a peaceful manner. Attacking journalists and media houses will ultimately have a detrimental effect on freedom of expression for the people of Nepal.
