(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES denounces the actions taken by the security forces against journalists in different parts of the country and urges them to respect the universal principles of media freedom and freedom of expression. On 12 November 2002, the police took into custody Tikaram Rai, editor and publisher of “Aparanha”, under the Public Offence Act. […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES denounces the actions taken by the security forces against journalists in different parts of the country and urges them to respect the universal principles of media freedom and freedom of expression.
On 12 November 2002, the police took into custody Tikaram Rai, editor and publisher of “Aparanha”, under the Public Offence Act. The editor was arrested at his office and taken to the District Police Office at Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu. Rai was released on the afternoon of 14 November on Rs 500 (approx. US$6.39) bail, but the case is still pending.
Upon his release, Rai said that he would file a petition against the government’s decision to book him under the Public Offence Act. He was arrested for publishing news items in the 11 and 12 November issues of his newspaper, indicating that Senior Police Superintendent Basanata Kunwar was engaged in corruption through middlemen while issuing driver’s licenses. Kunwar then registered a petition at the Police Headquarters under the Public Offence Act and filed a legal complaint saying that the news report amounts to character assassination.
In a separate incident, Royal Nepalese Army personnel took into custody Harihar Singh Rathor, a reporter for the daily “Kantipur”, at his residence in Dailekh during the weekend of 9 to 10 November. The reporter was released after nearly 11 hours. Security sources said that they had taken Rathor into custody to ask him about an explosion near his residence.
Moreover, on 13 November, security personnel arrested Dinesh Chaudhari, a Jajarkot-based reporter associated with “Space Time Dainik”, on charges of sedition.
Background Information
Following the imposition of a state of emergency in Nepal on 26 November 2001, more than 150 journalists have been arrested in different parts of the country. The state of emergency was lifted on 28 August, but more than two dozen journalists remain in detention. Some journalists have reportedly been tortured, both physically and psychologically. Several detainees’ whereabouts are unknown. There have been no reports of official charges filed against any of the detained journalists.
Furthermore, on 4 October, King Gyanendra assumed all executive powers. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was sacked and elections scheduled for 13 November were postponed for an indefinite period. On 11 October, the king formed a government under monarchist Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chanda, granting him limited powers.