Nepal

New York, April 18, 2006 - More than 200 Nepalese journalists have been detained since April 4 while participating in pro-democracy protests to demand press freedom or while covering the nationwide demonstrations, according to information compiled by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ). The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the immediate release of the 31 journalists who remain...

Kathmandu, April 14, 06 - The Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) - a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group - condemns fresh arrests of journalists, lawyers, development workers and threats by the government against private media organizations in the country. On Friday, police took into custody 13 journalists in the western hilly district of Baglung as they...

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Baton-wielding police beat journalists who were protesting against a media clampdown in the Nepalese capital on Saturday, as a general strike called by the opposition to demand the king's ouster shut down this Himalayan nation. About 200 journalists marched through the capital Kathmandu demanding the restoration of press freedom and the release of dozens of journalists...

With anti-monarchy protests in Nepal being increasingly tackled with a heavy hand by the King Gyanendra regime, those covering the protest rallies across the country are also finding themselves at the receiving end. Seven journalists were injured on Saturday alone when they were beaten up by the police. All were covering the protest rallies. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has...

International press freedom and free expression groups have expressed concern over the systematic attacks, intimidation, harassment, sexual abuse in custody and arbitrary detention of journalists by security forces in Nepal. FIGHTING FOR PRESS FREEDOM: Executive Director of International Media Support Jesper Hojberg(far left) addressing journalists in Kathmandu March 25, 2006. "The refusal of the...

The Nepal government has freed journalist Bhawana Prasain, who had been detained since February last year and allegedly tortured in police custody for suspected links with Maoists. Prasain was released following a Supreme Court order, reports said. SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS: Nepali girls give the Maoist salute as they hold rhododendrons, the country's national flower, during celebrations for the...

Nepal stands on the brink of "becoming an isolated pariah state" unless it urgently restores democratic rule, freedom of expression and respects the rights of journalists. ENGENDERED: Riot police officers detain a pro-democracy activist during a demonstration on the anniversary of King Gyanendra's absolute rule in Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006. Nepal's king announced Wednesday he would...

The International Mission for Press Freedom and Free Expression in Nepal has condemned the persistent repression of the media and the increasing crackdown on freedom of expression since King Gyanendra seized absolute power on February 1, 2005. The members of the mission announced their collective intention for a follow-up mission to Nepal in March 2006. ARM STRUGGLE: Riot police officers detain a...

Kathmandu, Feb 1 (PTI) Three dozen journalists were arrested in Nepal today as they held demonstrations to protest against the curbs imposed on media after King Gyanendra's assumption of absolute power a year ago. Two dozen scribes were arrested from New Road, a restricted area in Kathmandu, as they demonstrated, marking the first anniversay of the royal takeover as 'Black Day' to protest against...

KATHMANDU, Jan 23 - The security men on Saturday night detained Khem Bhandari, editor of local daily 'Mahendranagar Post' and 'Abhiyan tabloid' from the Campus road in Mahendranagar. Bhandari was arrested before 9 p m, when the curfew begins in the area, while he was returning home. Security officials claimed that he was taken into custody for an argument with the patrol team. The security men are...