Political Groups Must End Attacks on Journalists in Nepal

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the Unified CPN Maoists and all political groups in Nepal to end attacks on media personnel reporting on street protests.

 

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate, reported repeated incidents of violence against journalists across Nepal instigated by activist groups affiliated to the Unified CPN Maoists during street protests in the past week.

 

Students affiliated with the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary), a student wing of the Unified CPN Maoists, reportedly attacked a vehicle carrying FNJ secretary Ram Dahal, Himal Khabarpatrika editor Kiran Nepal, Himal Khabarpatrika managing editor Indra Shrestha and journalist Rameshowor Bohara as it left Kathmandu on June 16.

 

The student activists reportedly threw stones at the vehicle, damaging its headlights, despite the passengers producing their media identification cards.

 

On June 15, protesters at several strikes organised in and around Kathmandu by the Young Communist League (YCL), a sister organisation of the Unified CPN Maoists, physically and verbally abused a number of media personnel and vehicles that were clearly marked “media”.

 

The FNJ reported the following incidents:

 

In the Chahabil area of Kathmandu, a Kantipur Publications media van was vandalised.

 

In Gairegaun in Makwanpur district near Kathmandu, Kantipur TV host Basudev Krishna was verbally abused.

 

In the Sinamangal area of Kathmandu, a vehicle transporting Nepal Samacharpatra editor Badri Tiwri was forced to turn back after activists blocked its path.

 

In Sitapaila village in the Bagmati zone of central Nepal, Avenews TV correspondent Krishna Neupane was harassed by protesters who damaged his motorcycle

 

In the Dhumbarahai area of Kathmandu, FNJ staff member Bhojraj Ghimire was verbally abused. Protesters also reportedly attempted to set fire to his motorcycle.

 

“All political groups regardless of their mandate should understand and respect the importance of a functioning media for any type of democratic governance,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said. “While the IFJ encourages freedom of expression and plurality of political views, any act of violence against media personnel is not only an abuse of their individual human rights but also an attack on press freedom.”

 

The IFJ joins the FNJ in calling on all political groups in Nepal to give assurances publicly that they are committed to press freedom and to take responsibility for the actions of all members of their networks.

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

 

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide