19 July 2005

INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION EXPRESS GRAVE CONCERN

Twelve international organisations, including eight IFEX members, have called on all sides of the Nepalese conflict to end attacks and harassment of journalists in the country.

In a joint statement issued at the end of a week-long fact-finding mission, the organisations expressed "grave concern that since 1 February, press freedom and freedom of expression in the country has significantly deteriorated, despite the lifting of the State of Emergency in April."

The organisations said all combatants in the conflict have been responsible for abusing press freedom and freedom of expression. They demanded the immediate release of "all detained media practitioners and others imprisoned for the free expression of their opinions" and that "anti-terrorism legislation not be used or abused to curb freedom of expression and press freedom."

They also strongly urged Nepalese authorities to "refrain from introducing any new media ordinance, decision or ruling which would alter or override existing media-related legislation, including Supreme Court decisions, especially regarding civil and criminal defamation and licensing regulations."

The organisations issued the statement after conducting a joint research and advocacy mission to Nepal from 10 to 16 July 2005. The delegation met with government officials, civil society representatives, and journalists across the country.

The organisations included UNESCO, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), ARTICLE 19, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Media Support, International Press Institute (IPI), Press Institute of India, Reporters sans Frontières (RSF), South Asian Free Media Association, World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the World Press Freedom Committee.

The international groups pledged to work with Nepalese partners to monitor, document and raise international awareness of press freedom and free expression violations. A report detailing the findings of the mission will be available in the near future.

Read the joint statement here: http://tinyurl.com/bnqq6
For more information on the situation in Nepal, visit:
- Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies: http://www.cehurdes.org.np/- AMARC: http://www.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=421- WAN: http://www.wan-press.org/article7725.html- IFJ Report "Coups, Kings and Censorship": http://www.ifj.org/gifs/Nepal%20coups%20kings%20and%20censorship.pdf- IPI: http://www.freemedia.at/r_wl_nepal.htm- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2005/nepal_05/nepal_05_main.html- UN Envoy Expresses Concern: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15057&Cr=nepal&Cr1=- UN Nepal Information Platform: http://www.un.org.np/