The International Federation of Journalists mission to Nepal has found unacceptable repression of journalists' rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association.
The mission has identified six journalists currently detained:
1. Mr Bishnu Nisthuri, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)
6. Mr Sujeev Bajracharya, Editor, City Post Sandhyakalin, Kathmandu
Other journalists, including FNJ President Tara Nath Dahal are known to be in hiding or have gone into exile to avoid arrest.
"The Kings's advisors and the army repeatedly claimed to us that no journalists were detained, other than for political activity. This is patently untrue," said IFJ President Christopher Warren said.
"All six of these journalists should be released immediately," he said. "The military should immediately cease its search for other journalists."
The mission also identified extreme measures of censorship that undermined the ability of the Nepalese people to find out what is happening. In this climate, rumours and insecurity will flourish.
"The use of army censors, closing down of FM radio news and random arrest of journalists all act to fundamentally restrict the public's right to know," Warren said.
Reports that the King intends to establish a Media Commission to regulate the media risks entrenching this censorship, and will cause long term damage to the media.
The banning of news and information on current events on FM radio has been particularly harmful. So much of Nepal - particularly outside Kathmandu - relies on FM radio for news and information.
"The loss of this service, besides being an assault on people's right to information is also contributing to the deep national uncertainty," the mission said.
These restrictions coupled with the general insecurity threaten the viability of the Nepali media. We have reports of widespread closures in the many areas of Nepal and, in all, estimates that about half of all papers that were publishing prior to the coup have now ceased to be published. Those that remain have been significantly reduced in size and many are financially vulnerable and may not survive long.
The result of all this has been significant job losses among journalists. The mission estimates that at least 600 journalists have already lost their jobs. Up to a further 1,000 could lose their jobs if the current trends continue.
In this destruction of democratic space, the King and the army appear to be particularly targeting large membership institutions like the FNJ, the Bar Association, the trade unions and large human rights organizations.
As part of this concern, the mission has also identified three prominent trade leaders detained:
1. Ms Manju Bhattarai, Nepali Trade union Congress (NTUC), Kathmandu
2. Mr Pushkar Achrya, NTUC, Biratnagar.
3. Mr Kishore Gautam, NTUC, Kathmandu.
"The assault on the democratic centre undermines the very potential for democracy in Nepal. It can only strengthen the extremes of military rule and Maoist insurgency, " the mission said.
The International Federation of Journalists demands the immediate and unconditional release of the detained journalists and trade union leaders, immediate lifting of censorship and resumption of the generation of independent news.
"The clampdown on freedom of expression and the attempt to stifle democratic forces is against the fundamental human rights and must be strongly resisted, said Warren calling upon the international community suspend military aid to Nepal until fundamental human rights are restored.
The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 100 countries. Its mission to Nepal consisted of IFJ President Christopher Warren and south Asia Co-ordinator Laxmi Murthy. It follows an earlier mission in September 2004.
For more information contact:
Christopher Warren, President, IFJ +61 411 757 668
Jacqueline Park, Director, IFJ Asia Pacific +61 411 721 692
Laxmi Murthy, Co-ordinator, South Asia +91-9818383669
