Journalist threatened over news on fraud in Nepal

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in condemning the threat issued to a journalist in Kathmandu, Nepal on September 11, 2017. The IFJ demands immediate action from Nepali authorities against the person issuing the threat. Umesh Paudel, a journalist with Naya Patrika daily, was threatened over a phone call by GP Paudel regarding news about a fraud business of crypto-currency. Paudel is one of the two journalists who reported ‘Gravity Currency’ as fraud business and named GP Paudel as the head of the business. After publication of the news, GP Paudel called on the journalist’s mobile and told him: “I know police officers all over Nepal. You have done your work, now, I will start what should be done to you.” FNJ Secretary Ram Prasad Dahal said: “While the right of the people dissatisfied with news coverage to seek legal action is intact, it’s condemnable to threaten a journalist over news. The FNJ doesn’t tolerate attacks on press freedom and demands immediate legal action against the person issuing the threat, and to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future.”The IFJ said: “Threat to a journalist over published content is a violation of media rights and needs to be properly investigated to ensure safety for the journalist concerned. The IFJ is concerned about the increasing trend of threatening journalists in Nepal in recent times and urges the authorities to ensure that incidents of threat are properly investigated, and those issuing threats be legally punished. The IFJ also urges the Nepali government to ensure a safe and fearless working environment for journalists.”

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