Freedom Forum has been concerned over the arrest warrant issued by Nepal Police against senior journalist Shambhu Shrestha.
Editor in Chief of the Dristi weekly, Mr Shrestha, was issued arrest warrant in line with Electronic Transaction Act, which the police claim as the 'cyber law'.
The arrest warrant came in series after the police had arrested Chief Editor of the Khojtalas weekly and an online news portal, www.khojtalasnews.com, Raju Basnet, two days back.
Basnet is in detention after he used the news first published in the Drishti weekly to his news portal.
Despite having rightful body to see the news content, Press Council Nepal, Nepal's Police's highhandedness and misuse of the law is condemnable. Anyone in case of having reservation on the news content can go to the Press Council.
For long, the ETA has been afflicting the Nepali journalists and citizens. Freedom Forum has been continuously advocating for the cancellation of the Section 47 of the ETA, as it is misused frequently to panic and torture journalists in the name of cyber crime.
At time when various new laws are being intolerant to press freedom, the growing intimidation by security body as well has further contributed to the deterioration of press freedom in the country.
Therefore, FF strongly urges the police administration to stop harassing journalists, but to help create favourable atmosphere for journalists to free reporting.
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;