16 June 2005

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned over repeated police interference of Nepalese journalists' right to protest.

Since Monday 13 June 2005, a wave of protests by members of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) against media restrictions in Nepal have been fraught with physical scuffles with the police, resulting in arrests and detention of journalists for up to 22 hours.

"These atrocities committed against journalists exerting their right to freedom of expression must cease. The IFJ joins the other unions in Nepal in expressing solidarity for our Nepalese colleagues", said IFJ President Christopher Warren.

These protests follow two previous similar protests held by journalists on 9 and 10 June last week, which also resulted in the arrest and detention of protestors.

Summary of protests
A regional branch of the FNJ organised a peaceful protest at Banepa in the Kathmandu suburb of Kavre on the morning of 13 June 2005. Police soon arrived on the scene and arrested 48 journalists who were held for 6 hours before being released.

In a show of solidarity with their Kavre colleagues, about 200 members of the FNJ organised a protest for the same afternoon at Ratna Park in Kathmandu. Soon after the start of the protest, baton-wielding police officers engaged in a scuffle with protestors, beating and injuring some journalists. About 50 protestors were bundled into waiting buses and taken into custody in three separate locations. Some of the journalists in this protest included FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri, general secretary Mahendra Bista, treasurer Hemanta Kafle and former president Harihar Birahi.

The journalists were held overnight and only released 22 hours later.

On 14 June, the Banke District branch of the FNJ organised a protest in Nepalgunj, marching from B.P. Chowk to Birendra Chowk. All 36 protestors were arrested upon reaching Birendra Chowk and held in custody for 4 hours.

'The IFJ applauds the bravery and resilience of our Nepalese colleagues and urges them to continue fighting for the rights that belong to them', said Warren.

Latest developments
Following the release of all detained journalists, members of the FNJ are continuing their bid for the removal of all media restrictions imposed since King Gyanendra assumed full powers on 1 February 2005.

Journalists and protestors have staged a sit-in in front of the Kathmandu District Administration Office in Babar Mahal on Tuesday, 14 June 2005 and were addressed by the leaders of several professional organisations, all lending their solidarity to the FNJ's cause.

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