(FNJ/IFEX) – Photojournalists Nitesh Mathema, with the daily “Bypass”, and Ram Saraf, with the “Annapurna Post”, were beaten by officers of the Armed Police Force on 2 February 2007. The two journalists had reached a bus parking lot in Birgunj, Parsa (a district in central Nepal), to cover a demonstration. According to Saraf, in the […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – Photojournalists Nitesh Mathema, with the daily “Bypass”, and Ram Saraf, with the “Annapurna Post”, were beaten by officers of the Armed Police Force on 2 February 2007.
The two journalists had reached a bus parking lot in Birgunj, Parsa (a district in central Nepal), to cover a demonstration. According to Saraf, in the process of controlling the demonstrators, police also attacked them with batons, even though they were wearing jackets with press emblems. They received injuries to their backs and legs.
Meanwhile in Morang, a district in eastern Nepal, three dailies – “Darshan Dainik”, “Udgosh Dainik” and “Janasangharsha” – have suspended publication. About a dozen weeklies, including “Birat Sandesh”, “Dristanta”, “Janamat”, “Janabhawana”, “Mofussil Saptahik” and “Digdarshan Saptahik”, have also stopped publishing. The publishers and editors of the newspapers decided to cease publication due to security concerns.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has expressed serious concern over the continuous attacks against press freedom. FNJ also called on the perpetrators to respect freedom of the press and expression. It has urged the government to ensure journalists’ safety and to take immediate action against those responsible for attacks on the media.