Nepal: Media Under Siege

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is outraged at the continued violence against journalists in Nepal, with three brutal incidents reported in the past week. According to IFJ affiliate the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Prabhu Yadhav, reporter for English-language weekly publication Young Guys, was allegedly kidnapped by a gang of armed assailants on September 6, before...

The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal has expressed serious concern about continuous violence against journalists in Nepal. Nepalese listen to a speech by unseen Maoist Chairman Prachanda at a rally in Kathmandu. Nepal's Maoists are cementing their new found political clout by establishing unions that could cripple the country and undermine a fragile peace deal...

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A group of leading editors in Nepal have accused Maoists, who are now part of the interim government, of attacking press freedom through a "sinister pattern of intimidation and threats". Ten editors of leading newspapers, magazines and a television station said that Maoist unions, demanding better conditions for workers, had even entered newspaper offices to physically...

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES welcomes the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill by the Legislature-Parliament, unanimously approved on 18 July 2007. The new law ensures: the right of every Nepali citizen to obtain any information from government bodies as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are operating with the support of the government, a foreign country or international...

(FNJ/IFEX) - Gyanendra Khadka, vice president of FNJ's Bhojpur chapter and a reporter for the "Nepal Samacharpatra Daily", was attacked by a group of security personnel at around 8:00 p.m. (local time) on 10 July 2007 in Bhojpur, a district in eastern Nepal. According to Sahimaan Rai, president of FNJ's Bhojpur chapter, Khadka was attacked by a group of about six armed police personnel while he...

A previously unknown group calling itself the National Republican Army, Nepal (NRA) has claimed to have killed a freelance reporter abducted a week ago from his home in the western district of Kanchanpur. On Monday, the group claimed in an email that it had killed reporter Prakash Thakuri and accused him of “propaganda in support of the monarchy.” “We are concerned about the safety of Prakash...

KATMANDU, Nepal: A search continued for a journalist abducted last week in western Nepal and one suspect has been arrested, a police official said Tuesday. Freelance journalist Prakash Thakuri was kidnapped July 5 from his home in Kanchanpur town, about 550 kilometers (330 miles) west of the capital Katmandu, said police official Chabilal Joshi. Officials received an e-mail Monday night claiming...

(FNJ/IFEX) - Pabitra Kumar Khadka, central representative of the FNJ and Sindhupalchowk correspondent for the national daily "Gorkhapatra ", was threatened with death on 18 June 2007 by Sub-Inspector Surendra Basnet and Constable Keshab Raut of the area police office in Barabise, Sindhupalchowk, a district in central Nepal. Khadka was threatened for not disclosing the source of a news report...

(CPJ/IFEX) - New York, June 21, 2007 - Two newspapers in Kathmandu have suspended publication this week in response to pressure, including death threats, from a Maoist party-affiliated trade union, the All-Nepal Communication, Press and Publications Trade Union. Nepalese journalists told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the trade union action appeared to be aimed at influencing coverage...

(FNJ/IFEX) - Ambika Bhandari, editor of the "Samyentra Weekly", published in Biratchowk in Morang, a district in eastern Nepal, was threatened with death by Bikram Bhujel, owner of the "Don't Cross Me" restaurant on 11 June 2007. Bhandari was threatened regarding news published in the paper that same day. According to Shiva Bahadur Karki, president of FNJ's Morang chapter, Bhujel entered Bhandari...