According to Press Freedom Index 2006 compiled by Reporters Sans Frontiers, Nepal ranks 159, behind Iraq (154) and Libya (152), just ahead of Saudi Arabia (161) and Iran (162). For a country that purports itself as a multi party democracy, with constitution that guarantees freedom of expression, this is a very tough spot to be.
The ten year long Maoists insurgency in Nepal, introduced the country to a new level of brutality, violence and politics of persecution against those who dared speak the truth. There have been numerous reports of armed Maoist guerillas intimidating journalists, threatening them and their family with violence if they published anything negative about them or their organization. The case that stands out is that of journalist Gyanendra Bahadur Khadka, who was beheaded by a gang of Maoists armed with knife on a school ground. Major national newspapers in the country reported this incident, with the picture of Mr. Khadka, tied to a tree with his hands back. There was huge outcry for some days and then the nation lost interest.
In year 2006, Maoists signed peace agreement with the government and the insurgency was officially over. Since then have joined the coalition government lead by Prime Minister Girija Koirala of the Nepali Congress Party.(Maoists recently pulled out of the government after their demands on abolition of monarchy were not met. You can see a pattern here, Maoists have no interest in a democratic process, all they know is force and violence)
Old habits die hard. Even after being part of the government, the Maoists kept their old ways of threatening the press, intimidating editors, causing disruptions in offices of newspapers.
Recently, Kantipur Publications, publisher of Nepal’s major national dailies Kantipur and Kathmandu Post was forced to stop its operations by Maoists and a group called the Young Communist League(which used be a Maoist militia group). Although they claimed that their only demand is better pay and working conditions for employees at the media house, the editor of Kantipur said to VOA News that “Maoists have expanded and radicalized trade unions, such as the newspaper delivery boys' union, and are now using affiliated workers to put pressure on the media.”
A couple of months before their forced closure of Kantipur, the Maoists had attacked three other publishers including Kamana Prakashan, forced the administration to accept their demands under threats of violence.
Although Kanitpur, Kamana and the rest have resumed operations after settling with the Maoists, journalists working in Nepal now have seen plenty of incidents to understand their work environment is not safe.
On October 5 2007, journalist Birendra Shah working in Bara district was abducted .Maoist chairman Prachanda now has publicly acknowledged that his party cadres had hand in Mr. Shah’s disappearance. But his whereabouts and condition have still not been released.
For days since his disappearance, Maoists strongly denied any involvement and in an attempt to clear their name and divert attention, even formed search committee.
Mr. Shah was reportedly working on a story on Maoists involvement in cross border smuggling.
Such is the state of “press freedom” in a “democratic” Nepal.
If you are outraged, concerned, then visit Federation of Nepalese Journalists and express your support for true press freedom in Nepal.You may also want to write to the Nepalese Embassy in Washington DC and express concerns.
Sources:
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19388
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