(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has repeatedly expressed its concern over the harassment of media by security personnel in their efforts to maintain peace and security and control terrorist activities. The security forces’ actions are taking place both within the mandate of the declared “state of emergency” and in a move to gag the press. On 17 […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has repeatedly expressed its concern over the harassment of media by security personnel in their efforts to maintain peace and security and control terrorist activities. The security forces’ actions are taking place both within the mandate of the declared “state of emergency” and in a move to gag the press.
On 17 December 2001, the police separately took three journalists into custody. They included the publisher of the weekly newspaper “Deshantar”, Bandhu Thapa, the editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper “Saanghu”, Gopal Budhathoki and Dolaram Ghimire, editor of the daily “Mechi Kali”, which is published in Butwal. CEHURDES was subsequently informed that Budhathoki and Thapa were released by security personnel on the evening of 18 December. Ghimire’s whereabouts are still unknown.
In the 16 December edition of “Deshantar”, an article reported that “the rationale for the state of emergency had almost finished ⦠as the crisis in confidence between the king and prime minister is increasing.” Furthermore, “Saanghu” reported that both the government and Maoist rebels were furnishing “false data” regarding the number of casualties that were incurred after the state of emergency was declared. A cartoon published on the weekly’s first page read: “The Army chief will certainly import weapons from India, not from Cuba”.
According to the 16 December edition of the daily newspaper “Samacharpatra”, security personnel in the hilly eastern district of Panchthar barred newspapers published in different parts of the country from reaching the district. Security personnel have not allowed leading newspapers published in Kathmandu, the daily newspaper “Blast Times” published in Dharan and other newspapers published in Jhapa to reach Phidim, the district’s headquarters.
On 25 November, Nim Bahadur Budhathoki, a computer operator for the monthly “Dishabodh” in Kathmandu, was arrested. On 26 November, editor Govinda Acharya, executive editor Khil Bahadur Bhandari, reporter Dipak Sapkota and computer operator Rambhakta Maharjan, from the weekly “Janadesh”‘s offices, were arrested. Executive editor Iswarchandra Gyawali and an unidentified journalist from the monthly “Dishabodh”, and editor Om Sharma and computer operator Dipak Mainali from the daily “Janadisha”, were also arrested on that day. On 29 November, Basanta Pokhrel, consultant editor for “Jana Sangharsa”, was arrested (see IFEX alerts of 30 and 27 November 2001). Their whereabouts are still unknown.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling on them to end the harassment of journalists in the course of their work
– demanding that they provide a free and fair news reporting environment, even during the state of emergency
– calling for the detained journalists’ immediate release
– requesting that they ensure the unobstructed distribution of newspapers
– calling on them to ensure the safety of the arrested journalists
– asking them to respect press freedom and freedom of expression
– asking them to stop the attacks against journalists
Appeals To
Rt. Hon. Sher Bahadur Deuwa
Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: +977 1 227286
Hon. Khum Bahadur Khadka
Minister for Home Affairs
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: +977 1 225156
Hon. Jaya Prasad Gupta
Minister for Information and Communication
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: + 977 1 221729
Pradip Shumsher JB Rana
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: +977 1 415593
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
