(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 8 September 2003, security forces physically assaulted photojournalist Rajendra Chitrakar while he was taking pictures in Baluwatar, Kathmandu. Chitrakar works for the state-owned daily “Gorkhapatra”. In a separate incident that same day, journalist Prajash Silwal and photojournalist Rojan Rai, of the daily “Himalayan Times”, were assaulted by security forces in Bijuli Bazar, […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – On 8 September 2003, security forces physically assaulted photojournalist Rajendra Chitrakar while he was taking pictures in Baluwatar, Kathmandu. Chitrakar works for the state-owned daily “Gorkhapatra”.
In a separate incident that same day, journalist Prajash Silwal and photojournalist Rojan Rai, of the daily “Himalayan Times”, were assaulted by security forces in Bijuli Bazar, Kathmandu. As the journalists were returning home from work, the security forces seized them by the neck and legs to immobilise them. Silwal and Rai were warned about their reports and threatened with unspecified repercussions for their writings.
In addition, the security forces arrested Shubha Shankar Kandel, executive editor of the weekly “Janadharana” and sub-editor of Image Metro Television, at his home in Banasthali, Kathmandu, on 9 September. Kandel was taken into custody and interrogated about books in his personal library dealing with Communism, Maoism and Leninism.
CEHURDES condemns the security forces’ actions against these journalists. The organisation also calls on the government to take action against the security officials who were involved in the separate incidents and to respect the universal norms of press freedom and freedom of expression.
