Abducted journalist released; captors’ identity in question
New York, March 11, 2005—Journalist JB Pun Magar was released today after three days in captivity. The Himal Khabarpatrika reporter called the magazine’s office in Kathmandu today from Butwal, where he is based, to say that his abductors released him unharmed at 9 a.m., according to news reports.
Nepalese journalist abducted by Maoists
New York, March 10, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Maoist rebels for abducting JB Pun Magar, an investigative reporter for the biweekly magazine Himal Khabarpatrika. Rebels abducted Magar while he was on assignment to cover anti-rebel uprisings in the midwestern district of Kapilbastu. The kidnappers allowed the reporter to call the magazine offices in…
Nepalese editor Kanak Dixit released
New York, March 8, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release early this morning of prominent Nepalese editor Kanak Mani Dixit, who was detained and questioned for roughly five hours last night. At least four journalists jailed since the royal coup on February 1 remain imprisoned.
NEPAL
MARCH 7, 2005 Posted: March 9, 2005 Kanak Mani Dixit, Himal Khabarpatrika HARASSED Prominent Nepalese journalist and political analyst Dixit, editor and publisher of the Nepalese-language Himal Khabarpatrika magazine, was detained and questioned. Dixit, who has criticized the king’s February 1 takeover of the government, was taken into custody shortly after returning from India, where…
CPJ condemns detention of prominent Nepalese editor
New York, March 7, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention today of prominent Nepalese journalist and political analyst Kanak Mani Dixit, editor and publisher of the Nepalese-language Himal Khabarpatrika magazine. Dixit, who has criticized the king’s February 1 takeover of the government, was taken into custody shortly after returning from India, where he…
Government maintains chokehold on independent press
New York, March 2, 2005—The Nepalese government yesterday directed editors of four weeklies to replace the word “Maoist” with “terrorist” or face punishment. The weeklies, including Jana Astha, were forced to change large portions of their text to comply with the order. The Ministry of Information and Communication also issued a new notice banning media…
CPJ urges government to restore press freedom
Dear Ambassador Shrestha: Thank you for meeting with Joel Simon, deputy director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and CPJ Washington, D.C., Representative Frank Smyth last week. As communicated in that meeting, CPJ is deeply alarmed at the treatment of Nepalese journalists since King Gyanendra’s February 1 declaration of a state of emergency, and we urged your government to restore press freedom immediately in the interests of your nation’s citizens and its international standing. We greatly appreciate your offer to convey our grave concerns to the king.
Security forces target journalists, impose blackout outside capital
New York, February 4, 2005—Security forces have arrested prominent social critic and columnist Khagendra Sangraula and are seeking to arrest Tara Nath Dahal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, who is currently in hiding. The arrest came on the fourth day of the state of emergency called by King Gyanendra, who has also banned…
King and army shut down independent press
New York, February 3, 2005—Two days after Nepal’s king declared a state of emergency, the independent press has been effectively shut down with blanket news bans introduced, military patrols placed at media outlets, and reprisals threatened against journalists. King Gyanendra has imposed a six-month ban on what state radio described as critical reporting on government…