Fears Grow For Journalists Under Siege In Nepal

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is dismayed as journalists in Nepal have come under increasing attack in the past few days as they attempt to cover protests and rallies across the country in the lead-up to national elections scheduled for April 10.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate, reports journalists and cameramen working in four districts in the east, the mid-west and near Kathmandu have endured physical and verbal abuse in the latest spate of incidents surrounding bands, or strikes, called by the Federal Republic National Front (FRNF), the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and the United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF). Equipment belonging to journalists and cameramen has been damaged, confiscated and in some cases destroyed.

A news correspondent for Janaki FM, Ganesh Sah, was reportedly attacked by Armed Police Force personnel while reporting a clash between cadres of the Madhesi Morcha separatist group and police in Golbazar, in the eastern Terai district of Siraha, on February 13. Sah suffered head injuries and is being treated at Lahan hospital.

The editor of weekly Birat Darpan, Bujaya Kumar Pathak, was reportedly attacked by MPRF cadres while on assignment at protests organised by the MPRF and FRNF on February 16 in Mahavir Chowk, in Biratnagar, in the eastern Terai district of Morang. Pathak’s attackers reportedly asked why his organisation was not reporting on MPRF news. His motorbike was damaged in the incident.

Cameramen were forced to stop filming when they were confronted by protesters in separate incidents at rallies on February 15 and 17, the FNJ said.

Subodh Singh Tharu, of Nepal Television, was reportedly attacked as he prepared to film protests by the UDMF in Banke, in the mid-western region of Nepalgunj.

The FNJ also received news that reporter Gokul Shrestha and cameraman Amrit Bhatta, both of Sagarmatha Television, were assaulted by an unknown group as they covered a rally in Sallaghari, Bhaktapur district, near Kathmandu. Protesters allegedly set their motorcycle alight and destroyed Bhatta’s camera.

“It is alarmingly clear that Nepal’s interim government and local authorities need to act immediately to curb this alarming trend of violence against journalists if power-holders are serious about progressing to a peaceful state,” said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park.

“Reports that security personnel are not preventing members of the public from acting violently toward journalists and are instead contributing to the attacks in an already fractious and fragile nation is an indicator of a widespread lack of respect for the media and its integral role in the nation’s stability.”

The IFJ joins the FNJ in demanding that government authorities condemn and rein in the behaviour of offending security personnel to demonstrate to all factions and members of the public that journalists must be free to carry out their professional duties without fear of violence.

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

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries

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