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