(FNJ/IFEX) – CEHURDES condemns the rough treatment given a photojournalist by student activists belonging to the All Nepal National Independent Students Union- Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), affiliated with the CPN (Maoists). Photojournalist Pradeep Shrestha, who works with the daily “Himalaya Times” newspaper, was roughly treated, even though he had identified himself as a journalist. The incident occurred […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – CEHURDES condemns the rough treatment given a photojournalist by student activists belonging to the All Nepal National Independent Students Union- Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), affiliated with the CPN (Maoists).
Photojournalist Pradeep Shrestha, who works with the daily “Himalaya Times” newspaper, was roughly treated, even though he had identified himself as a journalist. The incident occurred at the Public Youth Campus in Kathmandu when the activists of ANNISU-R and the Nepal Students Union (NSU), affiliated with Nepali Congress (NC) party, clashed with each other.
Over 40 students were injured in the clash that erupted after the NSU raised objections at a function organized by the ANNISU-R. The NSU claimed that the ANNISU-R had not given prior information to the campus about their organization’s activity.
Meanwhile, a photojournalists’ national association, the National Photojournalist Group, has condemned the mistreatment of Shrestha, who sustained minor injuries.
CEHURDES condemns the mistreatment of the journalist. It urges all concerned, particularly the Maoist party organization and affiliate bodies, to honor their past commitments to “respect press freedom.” CEHURDES hopes that, in the aftermath of comprehensive peace agreement between the government and the CPN (Maoists), organized attacks and threats against journalists will end.
