More journalists arrested in Nepal, Bishnu held without charge
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) holds deep concern for two journalists arrested in Nepal on 13 February and is calling for their immediate release along with the release of General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Bishnu Nisthuri, who has been held since 4 February without detention notice.
According to our information, on Monday 14 February the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered authorities to submit a written explanation within three days as to why Bishnu is being kept in detention. The decision was made in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by the FNJ.
"It is simply outrageous that Bishnu continues to be held without charge," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.
Bishnu has been held at Singha Durba Ward Police Station since he was arrested without an arrest warrant from his home on Friday 4 February late at night.
"His supposed crime was to alert to the world the impact of the royal coup on the media in Nepal: he should be commended, not incarcerated," said Warren.
The IFJ has also received reports of two Nepali district reporters arrested on Sunday 13 February by security forces in Chitawan District, 150 kilometres south of Kathmandu.
Narayan Adhikari from Government-owned Rastriya Samachar Samiti and Basanta Parajuli of Daily Gorkhapatra were arrested in two separate locations for unknown reasons.
"Considering the treatment of our colleague Bishnu, the IFJ has grounds for deep concern about the arrest of these two journalists," said Warren.
The IFJ, the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is fighting for respect of press freedom, safety and welfare of journalists in the aftermath of the 1 February coup.
"Journalists have been arrested, soldiers are stationed at radio stations and newspaper offices enforcing widespread censorship rendering close to 1,000 journalists unemployed," said Warren.
The IFJ has been working on a number of fronts to support colleagues in Nepal including asking governments who supply arms to Nepal to cease this trade immediately.
The IFJ welcomes the decision by the Indian Government to review its policy of supplying military arms to Nepal and calls on other nations to do the same.
"We also thank our IFJ colleagues in Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, Greece, India, Italy, Norway, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States of American for their actions in support of Nepali colleagues," said the IFJ President.
"But it is not enough: we must continue to lobby, protest, pressure, persuade and cajole to ensure that human rights are respected in Nepal and democracy is returned, " says the IFJ.
For further information contact Christopher Warren on +61 (0) 411 757 668.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
Click here to view the media release online:
http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/nepalcrisis.html
Click here for more information on the crisis in Nepal:
