(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: “Torture, Arbitrary Detention and Self-Censorship” Four Months Later: Consequences of the State of Emergency and the Fight Against “Maoist Terrorism” The toll on press freedom has been heavy since King Gyanendra’s declaration of a state of emergency on 26 November 2001. More than 100 journalists have […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release:
“Torture, Arbitrary Detention and Self-Censorship”
Four Months Later: Consequences of the State of Emergency and the Fight Against “Maoist Terrorism”
The toll on press freedom has been heavy since King Gyanendra’s declaration of a state of emergency on 26 November 2001. More than 100 journalists have been arrested by the security forces and at least 30 journalists and media workers are still in prison. Even more seriously, at least three journalists have been tortured.
Privately-owned newspapers and radio stations, however, continue to operate freely and articles about official corruption still appear in one of the main dailies. Restricted access to information and self-censorship only apply to military operations against Maoist militants.
A Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters sans Frontières) mission visited Katmandu from 10 to 13 March. RSF gathered information about the 30 people in jail for offences connected with “terrorism” as a result of government measures to stamp out activities deemed to be terrorist or subversive. The mission reported that the security forces were blocking habeas corpus efforts by some families and that the wife of one journalist was arrested after filing such a request with the Supreme Court.
As some Nepalese human rights groups criticise the “militarisation” of the government, RSF calls on the European Union and the United States to tie economic aid for Nepal to the government’s respect for freedom of expression. RSF repeats that the fight against terrorism, however lawful it might be, cannot justify serious human rights violations, especially those involving press freedom.
The entire text of the Nepal report is available on the RSF website at www.rsf.org
