Minister's aide threaten journo
Journalists Sher Bahadur Thapa and Deepak Budha were issued threat for reporting news on irregularities in Surkhet on June 14. Surkhet lies in Karnali Province.
Journalist Thapa is associated with www.lokaantar.com, a web based news portal, local Hamro Naya Nepal daily while Buddha the editor to Yug Ahwan daily.
According to FF's representative Laxmi Bhandari, journalists' duo had published investigative news on misuse of agricultural grant provided by the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative on June 12.
Following the publication of news at both national and local media, concerned minister's secretary Mukunda Sharma threatened journalists through phone calls and direct meetings, informed representative Bhandari.
Talking to Bhandari, journalists shared that secretary threatened them for reporting news. He also abused them verbally for publishing news about him and the minister.
Freedom Forum condemns threat issued to the journalists as it is sheer violation of press freedom. Threat issued by the responsible authority to the journalists for reporting on the public concern issues may create censorship in media and create fear among fellow journalists. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to respect journalists' rights of free reporting.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np