The International
Federation of Journalists strongly urges local and national authorities in
Nepal to enforce heightened
security measures and protection for journalists in all regions of Nepal
and ensure that the perpetrators of the recent spate of violent attacks are
brought to justice.
According to the
Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate, media monitors in the
mid-western and western regions of Nepal received reports of three new
incidents of violence against journalists
overnight.
On July 29, local
correspondent of Radio Nepal K.B. Bana and ABC Television correspondent Deepak
Bhattarai were allegedly beaten by police officials while covering a clash
between police and locals at Dumkibas in the Nawalparasi
district.
The journalists were
allegedly ambushed on their way back to a hotel, with police using gun butts,
lathis (sticks) and their boots as weapons. Rana sustained a severe injury to
his head and remains in a critical condition in
hospital.
News correspondent of the
Butwal Today daily and Nepal FM
Govinda Luitel allegedly received telephone death threats from an official of
the Devinagar Village Development Committee (VDC) in the western district of
Palpa on July 28. The threat was reportedly related to an article Luitel
published revealing unfavourable information about the
VDC.
In the mid-western
district of Bardiya, Kantipur national daily correspondent and central council member of the FNJ
Bardiya chapter Kamal Bahadur Panthi, was also allegedly threatened by an
official from the District Administrative Office for his investigative report on
allegations of corruption.
“Free and fair reporting
in all regions of Nepal and an independent media are
crucial to stabilising the country,” said the IFJ
Asia-Pacific.
“Journalists must have a
safe right of passage to report on all incidents of public interest, including
political events, conflict and corruption, and police must ensure adequate
security is provided.”
“Reports of police
instigating violence against journalists are particularly worrying and undermine
democratic freedoms in Nepal.”
The IFJ joins the FNJ in
condemning all threats and attacks on journalists for their work and demanding
the Nepal authorities immediately provide
improved protection and security for journalists during the current public
unrest.
For
further information contact IFJ
Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents over 600,000 in 122 countries worldwide