Journalist abducted, mobile phone and travel restrictions continue in Nepal
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has serious concerns for the safety of journalists in Nepal and their ability to fulfill their reporting responsibilities following the abduction of a journalist in the eastern district of Ilam and the government's continuing mobile phone and travel restrictions against journalists in Nepal.
"Journalists working in Nepal are doing so in an extremely hostile and difficult environment," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.
"Every week they suffer a new restriction curbing their ability to report the news in a fair, impartial and unbiased manner," said Warren.
The IFJ is concerned over the following in incidents in Nepal:
Journalist abducted
On 16 May, insurgents abducted Som Sharma, local journalist for the weekly Ilam newspaper Aankha from his rented residence at Mangalbare Bazare in the eastern part of Ilam.
The IFJ, the global journalists' organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned over Sharma's abduction and supports the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Ilam branch in demanding insurgents to immediately release Sharma. The reason for the abduction remains unknown.
Journalists and politicians stopped from travel
On 14 May 2005, newly elected FNJ President, Bishnu Nisthuri and General Secretary, Mahendra Bista cancelled a trip to Islamabad, Pakistan to attend a South Asia Parliamentary Forum. Nisthuri and Bista cancelled their trip in solidarity for security personnel unconstitutionally barring Nabaraj Subedi, the General Secretary of People's Front Nepal and former parliamentarian from travelling as part of the delegation of senior media personalities and political leaders to Islamabad.
Subedi was taken by security personal as soon as he arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport when the remainder of the delegation was informed that a "higher authority" would not allow Subedi to travel despite the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 guaranteeing all citizens the right to travel at their will.
Journalists denied mobile phone access
Nepalese journalists have been denied access to prepaid mobile phone use two weeks after Nepalese authorities resumed the service.
Yubaraj Ghimire, editor, Samay Weekly; Taranath Dahal, former FNJ President; Gunraj Luitel, news editor, Kantipur Daily; Puskar Lal Shrestha, editor, Nepal Samacharptra and Ujir Magar, sub-editor, Kantipur Daily have all been denied access to prepaid mobile phone service.
Nepal telecom, running the mobile phone service was quoted in the Kantipur Daily, that the telecom operator had not received approval from the government resume services for the journalists barred from using the service.
Journalist held in jail for 18 months without trial
On Sunday, 15 May, FNJ President, Bishnu Nisthuri was allowed to visit Bhaikaji Ghimire, managing director of Sam Dristi Weekly in Nakhu Jail, Kathmandu.
Ghmire has been kept in custody for 18 months without an arrest warrant or appearing before a judicial court reportedly in connection to an article he published "Nirnayak Yatra" (The deciding voyage).
Ghimire has reported been tortured and interrogated by security personal in connection to the article.
The IFJ is calling for the Nepalese Government to launch a full investigation into the abduction of Sharma, release all imprisoned journalists, and lift the restrictions on mobile phones and travel for journalists.
Finally, the IFJ demands an immediate return to full democracy and a free and independent media in Nepal.
For more information on the crisis in Nepal see www.ifj-asia.org/nepalcrisis.html
For further information contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
