The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
condemns the brutal attack on a female journalist and office holder at the
Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in Rukum District, western Nepal,
on December 8.
Local Rajdheni reporter and
FNJ central councillor Tika Bista was
found unconscious near her home at midday on December 8 with severe injuries to
her head, arms and leg. Her damaged laptop, two mobile phones and documents
were found nearby.
The FNJ,
an IFJ affiliate, said that Bista had reported receiving a threatening phone
call on November 29 concerning an article she wrote in which the Unified Communist Party
of Nepal (UCPN) Maoist party criticised.
Bista was flown
to Kathmandu yesterday and is reported to be in
a stable condition, according to local media reports today.
“The brute
violence used against Tika Bista is abhorrent and must not be tolerated,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
“Nepal’s
authorities must take every step to locate and prosecute whoever is responsible
for this vicious attack.”
The assault
of Bista is the second violent attack against a young female journalist in Nepal in
the past year. On January 11, Uma Singh was murdered at her home in Janakpur. Her murder drew
much national and international condemnation and highlighted the acute risks
for media personnel as Nepal
makes its difficult transition to democracy.
The IFJ
joins the FNJ in urging the local administration of Rukum District and the
police to bring those responsible for the attack on Tika Bista to justice.
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists
in 125 countries worldwide