(FNJ/IFEX) - A group of people padlocked the newspaper office of the Morang-based newspaper "Mofussil Weekly" on 15 September 2006. It was padlocked in response to the newspaper having published a report that said a Maoist cadre, Bhim Tamang, had tried to sexually assault a minor girl.
FNJ Morang reports that, according to "Mofussil Weekly" editor Narendra Rai, Nabaraj Tumba, from the Maoist-aligned student union, padlocked the office under instructions from the chief of the People's Government of Maoists, Jaya Man Limbu, and the Maoist leader Chetana.
After the Civil Monitoring Committee declared the padlocking illegal and irrational, the office was unlocked under the supervision of the committee on 16 September.
However, the head of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) in Morang, Maoist Dinesh Sharma Sagar, denied the charges of his organization's involvement in the padlocking of the newspaper office. He added that he is prepared to take appropriate disciplinary action if he finds there was any Maoist involvement.
FNJ condemns the incident and urges the Maoists to fulfill their expressed commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression. FNJ also demands action be taken to punish the guilty.
