Nepal / Asia

This statement is issued by members of the ‘International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal’. We, as members of the ‘International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal’, express our serious concern that HM King Gyanendra, together with the government and security forces, is seeking to further undermine Nepal’s vibrant…

New York, October 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the restrictive media law implemented on October 9 by Nepal’s King Gyanendra. Local journalists report that the ordinance codifies severe restrictions on the press that were announced when the king sacked the multi-party government and claimed absolute authority on February 1. “These extremely repressive amendments…

OCTOBER 9, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 All journalists CENSORED A restrictive media law was implemented by Nepal’s King Gyanendra. Local journalists said the ordinance codifies severe restrictions on the press that were announced when the king sacked the multi-party government and claimed absolute authority on February 1.

New York, October 5, 2005 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today held the Nepalese authorities responsible for the death of an imprisoned reporter who died after being denied proper medical treatment. Maheshwar Pahari, 30, who worked for the weekly Rastriya Swabhiman, died of tuberculosis on Tuesday, according to local journalist groups. Pahari died in…

OCTOBER 4, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 Maheshwar Pahari, Rastriya Swabhiman KILLED—CONFIRMED Imprisoned reporter Pahari died after being denied proper medical treatment by authorities. Pahari, 30, who worked for the weekly Rastriya Swabhiman, died of tuberculosis, according to local journalist groups, in a hospital in Pokhara, 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Kathmandu. Local doctors…

SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 Posted October 11, 2005 Harihar Singh Rathour, Kathmandu Post, and Kantipur IMPRISONED Authorities detained Harihar Singh Rathour, correspondent for the Kathmandu Post and Kantipur, without charge in the mid-western district of Dailekh. Authorities threatened to hold him under the Terrorist and Destructive Activities (Control and Punishment) Ordinance for allegedly collaborating with Maoist…

New York, September 19, 2005— The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the arrest today of a reporter with Kantipur publications in the mid-western district of Dailekh from which 15 independent journalists fled after being harassed by the military for their reporting of Nepal’s civil war. Authorities detained Harihar Singh Rathour, correspondent for the Kathmandu Post…

New York, September 16, 2005—Police detained more than 80 journalists today in Kathmandu ahead of a planned protest against restrictions on the media. The journalists had gathered in the capital’s Ratna Park area, where rallies are banned. The journalists were held for about four hours and released. “The authorities should not prevent protests by journalists…

SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 Tilak Mahat, Rupandehi FM ATTACKED Mahat was attacked by police along with other journalists covering pro-democracy protests at Bagh Bazar in the capital, Kathmandu. He received four stitches for a head wound. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) said that police appeared to be violently targeting journalists covering…