A group of around 10 unmasked persons burnt copies of Himal Magazine in front of its office at Maitighar in the capital on November 16, Sunday night. The group, which is in combat dress, seized 5000 copies of the magazine which were readied for distribution and burnt around 1300 out of them. According to eye witness, the masked men in five motorbikes took away three sets of mobile and threatened Himal Magazine employees with life.
This is the second attack on Himal Media within a month. The Media's Chief Executive Officer Ashutosh Tiwari was also targeted on October 25 when two men on a motorbike hurled rock at him.
Freedom Forum strongly deplores the incident of arson in Himal Media terming this an intentional act as an assault against whole press freedom. It is the heinous crime against journalism to burn the copies of magazines which has not only harassed journalists and media house by violating their freedom of expression but also prevented people's right to receive information and build-up opinion, stated press release issued by Chairperson Taranath Dahal. The statement further read that the Forum urged the government and concerned authority to be cautious about assaults against press freedom and in guaranteeing security to journalists, media workers and house.
Such incidents could not be anymore digestible in open and democratic society and efforts from all sides should be put on to discourage such unscrupulous elements for press, freedom and freedom of expression, the press release stated.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022