The International Federation of Journalists has learnt with some concern about death threats received by two journalists in the western Nepal district of Rupandehi on May 13.
According to information received from the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate, Bindu Kumar Chauhan and Kanhai Yadav allegedly received death threats by phone from sub-inspector Dev Raj Aryal, of district police headquarters.
Unnamed personnel of the district's mobile police squad also reportedly threatened the journalists.
Mohan Chapagain,
president of the FNJ's Rupandehi chapter, said the journalists had attracted the
anger of the police for their reporting on smuggling in Nepal's
border areas.
The IFJ joins the FNJ in
denouncing the incident and calling on authorities to institute strong
disciplinary proceedings against those involved.
"With Nepal going through
a democratic transition, it is essential that officers of the law set a
conspicuous example in using available legal means for addressing grievances in
all matters involving the media," said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline
Park.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333
0919
The
IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120
countries