IFJ Protests Against Dismissal of Two Journalists in Nepal

The International Federation of Journalists has sent a letter of protest to the Prime Minister of Nepal, voicing its concern over the dismissal of two journalists from the state-owned Radio Nepal, Murari Kumar Sharma and Uttam Hamal.

Recommended action:

Send appeals:
  • Condemning the dismissal of Murari Kumar Sharma and Uttam Hamal from Radio Nepal.

  • Urging the Government of Nepal to order Radio Nepal to reinstate Murari Kumar Sharma and Uttam Hamal to their jobs at Radio Nepal.

  • Urging the Government to ensure freedom of the press


Appeals:

Rt. Honorable Mr. Lokendra Bahadur Chand
Prime Minister of Nepal
Fax: +9771226286, 9771227765
Email: [email protected]

Honorable Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey
Minister for Information and Communication, HMG/Nepal
Fax: +97714221729
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Mr Sailendra Raj Sharma
Director
Radio Nepal
Fax: +97714228652
Email: [email protected]

Mr. Nayan Bahadur Khatri
Chairman, Nepal Human Right Commission
Fax: +9771547973
Email: [email protected]

Please copy appeals to the IFJ Asia Office at [email protected]

For more information please contact Jacqui Park at [email protected]




The IFJ have protested to the Government of Nepal in the following letter:

5 June 2003

Rt. Honorable Mr. Lokendra Bahadur Chand
Prime Minister of Nepal
Fax: +9771226286, 9771227765
Email: [email protected]

Honorable Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey
Minister for Information and Communication, HMG/Nepal
Fax: +97714221729
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]

Mr Sailendra Raj Sharma
Director
Radio Nepal
Fax: +97714228652
Email: [email protected]

Mr. Nayan Bahadur Khatri
Chairman, Nepal Human Right Commission
Fax: +9771547973
Email: [email protected]

Your Excellency,

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest journalists’ organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned over the dismissal of two journalists from the state-owned Radio Nepal, Murari Kumar Sharma and Uttam Hamal.

According to our information, on 22 May 2003 the Director of Radio Nepal Mr.Sailendra Raj Sharma, on the instruction of Information and Communications Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey, dismissed Uttam Hamal and Murari Kumar Sharma, both of whom are activists in the Nepal Press Union.

Mr Murari Kumar Sharma of Dang District and Mr Uttam Hamal of Salyan District, have been working for Radio Nepal for eight years. The journalists were dismissed for filling reports about a peaceful movement launched by five opposition parties against the King’s political actions of 4 October 2002.

The IFJ demands the Government of Nepal to direct Radio Nepal to reinstate Mr. Sharma and Mr. Hamal.

The IFJ asks the government of Nepal to recognise the duty of journalists to fairly report the news, and respect press freedom in Nepal.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Warren
President, IFJ


See also Statement from the Nepal Press Union