(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 9 November 2004, Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers physically assaulted photojournalist Prakash Mathema in Naya Tole, Kapilwastu municipality, Kapilwastu district, western Nepal. The attack took place at around 5:00 p.m. (local time), as Mathema was leaving his friend’s residence. The photojournalist works for Kantipur Publication Pvt. Ltd, which publishes the “Kantipur” and […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 9 November 2004, Royal Nepal Army (RNA) soldiers physically assaulted photojournalist Prakash Mathema in Naya Tole, Kapilwastu municipality, Kapilwastu district, western Nepal.
The attack took place at around 5:00 p.m. (local time), as Mathema was leaving his friend’s residence. The photojournalist works for Kantipur Publication Pvt. Ltd, which publishes the “Kantipur” and “Kathmandu Post” dailies.
“Kantipur” newspaper reported that Mathema was attacked for publishing a photograph showing a group of RNA soldiers crossing Ram Ghat River, with one soldier carrying another with an injured leg.
In a separate incident, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist) issued instructions to local FM radio stations in the country, ordering them to cease broadcasting Hindi and English-language songs.
The daily “Nepal Samacharpatra” reported that the CPN-Maoists’ All Nepal Peoples’ Cultural Association issued the order after claiming that the Hindi and English-language songs “have a negative impact on the nation’s culture.” The CPN-Maoists threatened to take physical action against the radio stations if their instructions were ignored.
CEHURDES condemns the RNA soldiers’ attack on Mathema and the CPN-Maoists’ instructions to FM radio stations in the country. The organisation further urges the RNA chief to take action against the soldiers who were involved in the assault on the photojournalist. CEHURDES also urges the security forces and CPN-Maoist rebel leaders to guarantee a safe environment for independent news reporting in Nepal.
