KATHMANDU, Sept 16 - Police cracked down on journalists demonstrating peacefully in Kathmandu on Friday, arresting about 80 journalists. Most of them were picked up by police before the protest meet. They were released in the evening.
Defying the government ban on demonstrations and rallies, journalists assembled at Ratnapark and chanted slogans demanding immediate restoration of press freedom and democratic rights of the people.
Among the arrested were FNJ President Bishnu Nishthuri, former FNJ president Hari Har Birahi, General Secretary Mahendra Bista, Vice-presidents Shiva Gaule and D R Pant, Treasurer Hemanta Kafle and members Purna Basnet, Ramesh Bista, Surya Thapa, Ramji Dahal and Bishnu Chhimeki. Journalists Tirtha Neupane, Ghanashyam Khadka, Damodar Neupane, Shyam Shrestha, Kiran Pokharel, Tanka Pant and Khila Karki were also arrested.
Hundreds of policemen deployed in and around Ratnapark to prevent the journalists' meeting, dragged journalists every time they formed groups and took out guerrilla-style rallies shouting slogans for press freedoms.
"Stop harassing and terrorizing journalists, lift financial restrictions and restore democratic rights," the journalists chanted.
FNJ President Bishnu Nishthuri said it was the height of cruelty to use force against peaceful demonstrators and arrest journalists merely for demanding press freedom.
Journalists in Chitwan also took out a rally protesting the government's cruel attitude against the press. Other professional organizations also expressed solidarity with the journalists' demonstration. In Nepalgunj, journalists defied the government ban on rallies and held a protest meeting at Tribhuvan Chowk.
The arrest of journalists holding peaceful demonstration, and use of brutal force against political activists drew nationwide condemnation. Rights organizations like Insec, Cehurdes, Hurpes and SAFMA expressed deep concern over the "illegal" and "inhuman behavior" of police.
Insec said a total of 1,563 persons, including journalists have been arrested between September 4 and 14, and more than 248, including policemen have been injured.
Cehurdes has condemned the government for arresting journalists in Friday's peaceful demonstration. Insec, Advocacy Forum, Human Rights Alliance, CWISH, COCAP, Dalit NGO Federation, WOREC, HERELIC-Nepal, RRN, CVICT, Him Rights, JUP-Nepal, HURFON, FWLD, IHRICON, Jagaran Nepal, Jagaran Media Center and Cehurdes have decided to monitor the demonstrations regularly.
