(FNJ/IFEX) – On 17 April 2008, Nimesh Karna, news coordinator of the radio station Janaki FM, which broadcasts from Janakpur, was threatened to be killed by the nephew of Bimalendra Nidhi, a Nepali Congress Candidate for Constituent Assembly (CA) election. The incident took place in Janakpur, a district headquarter of Dhanusha, a central region of […]
(FNJ/IFEX) – On 17 April 2008, Nimesh Karna, news coordinator of the radio station Janaki FM, which broadcasts from Janakpur, was threatened to be killed by the nephew of Bimalendra Nidhi, a Nepali Congress Candidate for Constituent Assembly (CA) election. The incident took place in Janakpur, a district headquarter of Dhanusha, a central region of Nepal.
Nidhi’s nephew threatened Karna over news disseminated by Janaki FM on 11 April, according to Ashok Rauniyar, the president of FNJ’s Dhanusha chapter. Rauniyar said that Karna disseminated news quoting the major political parties’ candidates, and other independent candidates, all questioning the vote counting conducted in Dhanusha. Nidhi’s nephew threatened Karna, asking him why he disseminated news that presented his uncle in a bad light.
Later, vote counting was resumed and Nidhi was elected by that constituency.
Denouncing the incident, FNJ said that this incident represents a direct attack on press freedom and the people’s right to information. FNJ strongly advocated for serious and responsible behavior by all political parties to ensure the safety of journalists and safeguard the role of the media.