Activists of 'Enough is Enough' movement have mistreated journalist and creative writer Biswas Khadkathoki of www.onlinekhabar.com (a web-based news portal) while covering news at Basantapur, Kathmandu on July 30, 2020. Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal.
Khadkathoki is also a sub-editor at the online news portal.
According to Freedom Forum's representative Ashok Dahal, Journalist Khadkathoki was mistreated by an activist of the movement while interviewing an activist who was staging a hunger strike at Bashantapur for the last 11 days.
"An activist with a placard on his chest pulled him back catching on his shoulder while he was interviewing Samayara Shrestha with prior permission from her. He was also asked to leave of the place," said representative Dahal quoting Khadkathoki's Facebook post.
"I was shocked from the misbehaviour which was rare in my decade-long journalism career and left from the place stopping the interview at the moment," wrote Khadkathoki on his post.
Freedom Forum condemns such behaviour of a citizen towards on-duty journalists. It is sheer violation of press freedom. Journalists covering a protest have always been facing some kind of intimidation. Hence, FF urges activists to respect journalists' rights and cooperate while reporting. Security authority is also requested to ensure safe reporting atmosphere for journalists.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np