Continually under siege

IN Media Freedom | 17/12/2004

On 6 December 2004,  the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-Maoist)  rebels released journalist Tulasi Thapa Kshitija. Kshitija, chief reporter for the weekly "Panchthar Times" and a reporter for the weekly "Aakha",  published in Panchthar and Ilam districts, was held captive by the rebels for 46 hours in Panchthar district, eastern Nepal. The journalist was  abducted in the Durabimba Village Development Committee, allegedly for working in the area without having sought permission from the CPN-Maoist  rebels. The rebels asked Kshitija to register with the CPN-Maoist party in order to be allowed to continue working in the area.

In a separate incident, on 2 December, a group of unidentified individuals abducted journalist Raj Kumar Budhathoki, along with other four civilians.  A  reporter for the weekly "Sanjibani", Budhathoki was abducted from his residence, located in Banepa municipality, Ward no. 11, Budho, in  Kavrepalanchok district, east of Kathmandu.

In addition, the bi-monthly newspaper "Samishran" has reportedly closed down  due to continuous threats from the CPN-Maoist rebels. According to reports,  the newspaper was published in Parbat district, western Nepal, and was an initiative of students at Mahendra Jyoti Higher Secondary School.

CEHURDES condemns the abductions and threats against journalists. The  organisation urges the parties involved to respect press freedom and freedom  of expression, as well as citizens` civil liberties.

On 11 December 2004, a group of unidentified armed men  vandalised the office and press of the weekly magazine "Ekkaisau Satabdi"  ("21st Century"), in Anamnagar, Kathmandu. According to a statement issued by the editor of "Bharat Raj Pokhrel" magazine, about half a dozen armed men  forcibly entered the "Ekkaisau Satabdi" office at around 7:00 p.m. (local  time), and proceeded to damage office equipment and vandalise the office and  press.

In a separate incident, Nepal Police officers prohibited journalists from visiting the home of Government Chief Secretary Bimal Prasad Koirala, where  a bomb exploded on 11 December.

Finally, over the past few days, Basu Dev Koirala, a private citizen, has been threatening to physically harm Hari Prasad Koirala, a correspondent for the state-owned daily "Gorkhapatra" in Biratanagar, eastern Nepal.

CEHURDES condemns these incidents and calls for an end to all attacks on  journalists and media outlets. The organisation urges all parties concerned  to respect press freedom, freedom of _expression and citizens` civil  liberties.