The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands the immediate release of Mr Labadev Dungana, president of Panchther district of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), who was arrested by security forces on 3 March.
Dungana has become the latest victim of King Gyanendra's campaign to silence critical voices in the Nepali press.
Executive editor of the Panchther Times, district correspondent for the Rajadhani national daily and Nepal Television, Dungana was targeted for reporting on student protests against the King's 1 February coup.
"Mr Dungana is an influential journalist in Nepal," said IFJ President Christopher Warren,
"His arrest displays the utter contempt that the Gyanendra regime holds for free speech and human rights in general."
"This latest arrest takes to 12 the number of journalists who have been detained for more than 48 hours since the coup. Four are still being held. At least one hundred reporters are in hiding while up to 800 have lost their jobs under suffocating, military-enforced censorship," said Warren.
Despite the use of soldiers to induce a climate of fear among journalists, many like Dungana have defied the restrictions.
"They are attempting to keep their communities informed of these momentous events, even to the extent of publishing an underground newspaper," said the IFJ, the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide.
"This, combined with international pressure, can stop such abuses of human rights," said Warren, who recently returned from a high level mission to Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, according to FNJ, a Parsa district FM radio station recently had its transmitter removed for 'investigation' by the security forces. FM radio is a vital news source in Nepal where illiteracy is widespread.
The FNJ denounced the act and demanded the transmitter back. The equipment has been returned and Parsa district radio is back on the air - for now.
"It has been a horrendous month for our colleagues in Nepal and it appears the situation is worsening. Increased violence and arrests are forcing media into subdued silence and gagging any remaining shred of democracy within Nepal," said Warren.
"In the face of these flagrant clampdowns on media, solidarity and support for our Nepali colleagues is more important than ever," said Warren.
For further information contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668.
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/nepal050307.html
Click here for more information on the crisis in Nepal:
http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/nepalcrisis.html
Click here to read the IFJ's Nepal Mission report Coups, Kings and Censorship:
