(FNJ/IFEX) – At least five journalists were severely injured when security personnel opened fire on a demonstration organized by the seven opposition parties in Chandragadhi, in the eastern district of Jhapa, on the afternoon of 19 April 2006. The injured journalists were there to report on a demonstration. The injured journalists are Umakant Khanal of […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – At least five journalists were severely injured when security personnel opened fire on a demonstration organized by the seven opposition parties in Chandragadhi, in the eastern district of Jhapa, on the afternoon of 19 April 2006. The injured journalists were there to report on a demonstration. The injured journalists are Umakant Khanal of “Purbanchal Dainik”, Narayan Khadka of “Nepal Samacharpatra Daily”, Sekhar Sedhai, Tika Ram Neti and Santosh Dhakal. Dhakal, a trainee journalist, sustained bullet wounds to his head, and Khanal and Khadka sustained bullet wounds on their legs.
Security personnel also beat journalists Tika Ram Neti and Sekhar Sedhai, despite having known that they were journalists. Sedhai’s right hand was broken while Neti sustained facial injuries.
At least four persons were killed in the incident. According to the FNJ’s Jhapa chapter, the security personnel indiscriminately opened fire on the protesting crowd without provocation from the demonstrators. Dozens of other people also sustained bullet wounds. Security personnel also charged at and clubbed the protesters, injuring over 100.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to streets in Chandragadhi, protesting against the government clampdown on the seven-party pro-democracy movement in recent days. According to reports, security forces fired over 500 rounds of bullets at the protestors during the 18-hour curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur.
In another development, independent media were not provided with curfew passes. Consequently their access to information has been obstructed. “Kantipur Daily” and other publications have been unable to distribute newspapers to their subscribers. They are not able to collect news on the ongoing demonstrations. The government has not provided a curfew pass to anyone. It is assumed that this decision is aimed at obstructing journalists’ mobility. The government has been criticizing independent media for fuelling democratic demonstrations.
The royal government has imposed an 18-hour-long curfew within the Ring Road areas of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts, effective as of the early morning of 20 April. The imposition of the curfew comes at a time when the agitating Seven Party Alliance (SPA) has organised huge demonstrations in the capital for 20 April. The 2 a.m. to 8 p.m. curfew has been imposed to disrupt the SPA’s planned Ring Road picketing programme. However, Kathmandu and other parts of the country have recently witnessed huge pro-democracy demonstrations by the SPA defying curfew orders.
Elsewhere, also on 19 April, 13 journalists, including FNJ Panchthar chapter president Lav Dev Dhungana and chapter vice-president Ganesh Sampang, were injured at Fidim, an eastern town which is the headquarters of the Panchthar district. The incident took place when security personnel indiscriminately attacked them while they were reporting on protests organized by an ethnic indigenous community against the government.
According to FNJ Panchthar, security personnel attacked Dhungana despite the fact that he had shown his identification documents. When other journalists tried to protest, security personnel deliberately attacked them too. The other injured journalists are FNJ Panchthar chapter secretary Lekhnath Khatiwada, Dipendra Gautam, Laxmi Gautam, Ram Prasad Baskota, Sandip Rai, Kiran Dhakal, Milan Rai, Madhav Khanal, Krishna Murari Ojha and Udisthir Raj Amagain. Dhungana, Sampang, Khatiwada, Gautam and Thapa are being treated at the district hospital in Fidim. The other injured journalists returned home after receiving treatment. Security personnel also broke Khatiwada’s camera.
In another development, on 20 April the government again pressured the cable operators to stop television broadcasts of news. The government also refused to provide curfew passes to journalists from independent media outlets. Without curfew passes, the independent media are facing obstacles to report and monitor the 20 April protests organised by the Seven Party Alliance.
FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri issued a press statement condemning the attacks on journalists. He also condemned the government’s move to deny curfew passes to the media. He also demanded immediate action against those involved in injuring journalists. He urged the authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. The FNJ also condemned the government’s pressure on cable operators to stop broadcasting television news programmes. It urged the government to respect people’s right to information.