The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Federation of Nepali Journalists
(FNJ) in calling for the immediate investigation of a death threat made against journalist
Hemanta Poudel, a reporter with the Samacharpatra daily on August 15 in the far western region of Nepal.
According to reports, a police
officer made the threats against Mr Poudel’s life on behalf of the local Superintendent of
Police Ghanashyam Aryal.
The threats followed the
publication of a report by Sudur Sandesh on August 12, which uncovered local police involvement in cross-border smuggling
between Nepal and India.
“Threats against journalists are
a serious violation of media rights and press freedom. They are particularly
disturbing when made by the very authorities charged with upholding the laws of
the country.” IFJ
Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
“We call
on Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs to launch an immediate, independent investigate
into this serious allegation”.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0918
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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