Nepal’s hard-fought press freedom at risk amid restrictive bills, government pressure
Last year, when Raju Basnet was covering landgrabs in the Nepali city of Lalitpur, he knew he was playing with fire. His reports in the weekly Khojtalas alleged that powerful people, including government officials, were involved in the scheme and Basnet had already received multiple warnings to back off the story. Despite this, Basnet told…
Nepal government proposes bills that endanger press freedom
May 23, 2019, New York — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern about measures proposed by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli’s government in the Federal Parliament of Nepal that threaten press freedom, and urged legislators and the government to amend the proposals in accordance with civil society and media recommendations.
Tandav News editor Giri investigated under Nepal’s cybercrime act
New York, April 15, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on authorities in Nepal to not pursue charges under the country’s cybercrime act against Arjun Giri, the editor of the weekly Tandav News, who was briefly detained today.
In Nepal, critical editor flees and journal’s funding is blocked
.@cijnepal founder @kundadixit gives video message: Censorship allows despots to win elections, they coopt journalists. #IJAsia16 pic.twitter.com/Uo558PQX5i— GIJN (@gijn) September 24, 2016 Kunda Dixit cut his once mop-like white hair, grew a beard, and quietly went into hiding, eventually fleeing Nepal for the safety of the U.S. to avoid arrest. And in doing so, the…
Journalist arrested in Nepal while covering protest
New York, May 25, 2016–Police in Nepal arrested the journalist Shesh Narayan Jha on Monday while he was photographing a protester splashing paint on the walls of a government complex in Kathmandu, according to the Federation of Nepali Journalists and press reports.
CPJ concerned by climate for free expression in Nepal
New York, May 3, 2016 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today said it is alarmed by Nepal’s decision to expel Canadian social media user Robert Penner. Immigration authorities revoked Penner’s visa because of his social media posts, which are frequently critical of the government, according to press reports.
In Nepal, critical journalist Kanak Mani Dixit detained in corruption case
New York, April 25, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Nepal to immediately release Kanak Mani Dixit, the founding editor of the independent regional news magazine Himal Southasian. The journalist, who has reported critically on the country’s civil war, has been harassed and detained previously by authorities.
CPJ Newsletter: A year in review
Over the past year, CPJ has documented anti-press violations all over the world, cases of journalists killed, imprisoned, abducted, or threatened in relation to their work. You can see all of our coverage at our website, www.cpj.org. But here at CPJ Impact we also highlight those times when CPJ has stepped in and advocated for…
