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Nepal
2007: Press Freedom
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| IFJ
condemns recent attacks on journalists in Nepal |
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IFJNews,
October2007
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed serious concern
after an increase in attacks against journalists working in Nepal.
Reporter
for Radio Lumbini, Bhim Prasad Gurung was shot in the chest by an unknown
group at around 11.30 pm on October 13 and was rushed to the Teaching Hospital
in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu.
The
attack occurred at his house in Kerawani village of Rupendehi, in the western
district of Nepal with the motives behind the attack still unknown.
In
another incident, the publisher and editor of Satya Sandesh Daily, Bijaya
Tiwari was threatened on October 13 at the central city of Nepal, Birgunj
when the revolutionary organisation, Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morchha (JTMM)
made a verbal threat toward Tiwari.
According
to IFJ affiliate the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), a member of
the JTMM identified as Akash called the editor and forced him to donate
to their organisation. Akash also threatened to kill Tiwari if he did not
donate to the JTMM.
IFJ
Asia-Pacific director Jacqueline Park has demanded that the government
step up in its efforts to take serious action against the perpetrators
and to investigate all attacks on journalists.
"The
Government must take responsibility and do their part to crack down on
illegal activities and to prevent further violence towards journalists,"
Park said.
The
IFJ is also concerned about the whereabouts of missing Nepali journalist
Birendra Shah who was abducted over 12 days ago from Pipara Bazaar, Kalaiya
in the central region of Nepal on October 5.
On
October 16 the parliament of Nepal formed a parliamentary committee to
investigate Shah's abduction case. The FNJ has informed the IFJ that police
arrested two suspected Maoists on October 16 in Birgunj in relation to
Shah's abduction.
"The
IFJ remains alert for any news about Birendra Shah's welfare and location
and urges his captors to release him safely to his family," Park said.
Source:International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ)2007
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| IFJ
condemns recent attacks on journalists in Nepal |
|
FNJ
News, 7 October 2007
A
team lead by Ramesh Bista, central committee member of Federation of Nepali
Journalists, FNJ, went to a mission at Bara district to initiate the release
of the abducted journalist Birendra Shah today.
Birendra
Shah, a Bara based journalist- affiliated to Nepal FM, Dristri Weekly and
Avenues TV was abducted by an unidentified group on 5 October, Friday evening
from Pipara Bazaar, Kalaiya -6, the district headquarter of Bara, located
at a central region of Nepal.
The
mission team is accompanied by Gagan Bista, general secretary of Press
Chautari Nepal and Junarbabu Basnet, treasurer of Nepal Press Union. The
other motives of the team are to promote press freedom and journalists'
security in the district.
The
team is scheduled to meet with local journalists, leaders of political
parties and representatives of civil society and human rights activists.
top
| FNJ
asks House and NHRC to speed up efforts of Shah's release |
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FNJ
News, 15 October 2007
A
delegation team of Federation of Nepali Journalists, FNJ, separately met
with Subash Nemwang, speaker of the Interim Legislature Parliament and
Kedar Nath Upadhaya, chairman of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC,
on 14 October at Kathmandu.
The
meeting discussed about safe and immediate release of the abducted journalist
Birendra Shah. The delegation team demanded the Speaker to instruct the
government on behalf of the parliament to take legal action against the
guilty. Saying the government has not giving due attention for the release
of journalists, the delegation team urged the government to send the on-site
mission of parliamentarians to find the facts about the regular trends
of attacks on media.
Nemwang
said that the parliament has taken the abduction and attacks against the
media seriously and would take necessary steps in this regard and will
punish the guilty after finding facts of the incident.
Similarly,
in the meeting with chairman and members of NHRC, the delegation urged
to draw the attention of the government and CPN-Maoists immediately. The
team also urged the commission to send a team to Bara district to investigate
the abduction and disappearance of Shah.
In
reply, chairman of NHRC committed that commission will immediately draw
the attention of government and CPN-Maoist and would send a team to investigate
the whereabouts of the scribe.
Two
local Maoist cadres allegedly abducted Shah on 5 October 2007 from Bara
district and his condition and whereabouts is still unknown.
The
delegation team was led by FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri. Mahendra Bista,
FNJ secretary general, Hemanta Kafle, treasurer, Ramesh Bista, FNJ mission
coordinator to Bara and executive member and other members of FNJ including
Balkrishna Chapagain, president of Press Chautari Nepal and Damodar Dawadi,
vice president of Nepal Press Union were also a part of the team.
Source:
Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) 2007
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