14 March 2007
Alert
Armed group warns media against using vehicles to cover strike, transport newspapers
Incident details
newspaper(s)
threatened
(FNJ/IFEX) - Madhesi Tiger Nepal (MTN), a hitherto unheard-of armed group, issued a press release on 13 March 2007, threatening the media, human rights activists and others with physical reprisals.
In the press release, MTN strongly demanded journalists not to use their vehicles to cover the strike, scheduled from 15 to 19 March. They also said that media vehicles should not be used to transport newsprint and newspapers. The release further said that failure to follow the group's orders would invite physical retaliation on their part.
FN) has condemned the incident and urged the group to respect freedom of expression and not to hinder journalists' right to disseminate news freely.