Copies of the national dailies- Kantipur, Nagarik and Annapurna Post- were torched by the demonstrators at Pidari Chowk of Dhanusha, a district in the southern plain of Nepal on September 1.
The agitators set ablaze the newspapers during a banda (general shutdown) called by the agitating all-party struggle committee in protest of Minister for Physical Planning and Works over the development activities.
They accused the newspapers of not covering their activities, stated the news portals of the Kathmandu Post and Republica dailies.
The struggle committee comprises 18 political parties, including the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN UML, and UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-centric ones who have been demanding immediate implementation of the Janakpur Development Project.
Freedom Forum condemns the burning of newspapers which has violated the freedom of expression and press freedom as it obstructed the free flow of information.
Therefore, Freedom Forum strongly urges the political parties to respect freedom of expression and press freedom which is essential in a democratic state. They also need to make their cadres aware on the importance freedom of expression.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np
Email: monitoring@freedomforum.org.np; info@freedomforum.org.np;