(FNJ/IFEX) – On 5 April 2006, at around 3:30 p.m. (local time), at least 24 journalists were arrested while participating in a peaceful protest organized by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists. Among those arrested were Shiva Gaunle, vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Hemanta Kafle, FNJ treasurer, Purna Basnet, FNJ Central Committee member, and […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – On 5 April 2006, at around 3:30 p.m. (local time), at least 24 journalists were arrested while participating in a peaceful protest organized by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists. Among those arrested were Shiva Gaunle, vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Hemanta Kafle, FNJ treasurer, Purna Basnet, FNJ Central Committee member, and senior journalist Kanak Dixit. The demonstrators were protesting the arrest of 37 professionals, including 13 journalists, at a protest rally organised by the Professional Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD) earlier the same day.
Other journalists arrested at the afternoon rally include Gyan Ram Shrestha, Laxman Karki, Bal Kumar Nepal, Navin Paudyal, Baburam Dhakal, Rojan Rai, Ujir Magar, Kiran Pokhrel, Indra Baniya, Damodar Dawadi, Govinda Chaulagain, Prakash Silwal, Lila Raj Khanal, Rajendra Aryal, Bimal Gautam, Dharmendra Jha, Uddhav Acharya, Nirmala Sharma,Shankar Layal Malla and Dev Raj Rimal. All were detained in Janasewa Police Office, Newroad.
The journalists and other professionals that were arrested in the morning and originally detained at Ward Police Office, Tinkune, were transferred to the Police Club at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, at 2:30 p.m. (local time).
In breaking up the protests, police used excessive force and manhandled the journalists before arresting them.
All the detained journalists and professionals were released at around 5:30 p.m. (local time).
The FNJ has issued a press release strongly condemning the arrests.