Journalists targeted in Nepal
11 April 2006
Over 100 journalists have been arrested and many hospitalised and manhandled in Nepal since pro-democracy rallies and strikes erupted across the country on 5 April, and approximately 20 remain in prison according to the President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)
Front Line has received reports that Nepalese security forces beat at least 24 journalists in separate incidents in the cities of Baglung, Doti, Chitwan, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Dhaulagiri since a nationwide dawn until dusk curfew was imposed on April 6
In a press statement released on 10 April, Bishnu Nisthuri said:” The government has been treating independent media and journalists as the enemy and at least 20 journalists are still being detained under custody, many of them are arrested without legal notice.”
He went on to urge all media personnel and freedom of expression supporters to “defy any restriction order and curfew imposed by an unconstitutional and autocratic government and to continue their professional duty without fear.”
A government ban on protests in the Himalayan country came into force on 4 April – two days ahead of the scheduled national strike and six days ahead of an anti-monarchy protest march on Saturday 8 April organised by a seven-party political opposition alliance. On Thursday 6 April, a dawn till dusk curfew was imposed by the government but widely ignored by pro- democracy protestors.
The Nepalese security forces have used teargas, batons and have fired into crowds in order to control the mass protests across the country.
Head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)in Nepal, Ian Martin said the use of force by the Nepalese police and army is “not acceptable”.
Journalists and editors reporting the protests are being targeted in particular: as well as being beaten, manhandled and imprisoned, Front Line has received reports of attacks on media vehicles and premises. On 6 April and 9 April, unidentified persons with rocks smashed a Himalayan Times vehicle and on 9 April army personal attacked the office of Paradarshi Daily, a Chitwan based newspaper
Front Line calls on the Nepalese authorities to release those journalists who remain imprisoned for exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and expression. Front Line also would like to draw the Nepalese authorities attention to the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in particular article 11 which states “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession.”