AUGUST 24, 2008 Some persons claiming themselves to be the cadres of Maoist youth wing Young Communist League (YCL) mistreated with Qatar-based Kantipur reporter Shyam Sundar Shahsi at a function of the Maoist in Qatar on August 20. The Maoist cadres thrashed journalist Shashi who had reached the place to cover the function attended by Maoist leader CP Gajurel and Matrika Yadav, for attending the function without being invited, according to the Kathmandu Post, a national daily.
The Post added the function was held about 100 kilometres from Doha. They smashed Shashi’s camera and deleted the picture. The assailants said they ejected Shashi from the function on the instruction of the organizer, Janardan Giri, Chairman of Maoist-affiliated Nepal Janapragatishil Manch. Shashi’s camera was returned later, said the Post.
Freedom Forum strongly deplores the act of misbehaving journalists reaching to the spot for covering news and asks the Maoist party to mend its way and to pay respect to press freedom. The Forum also asks the side concerned to provide journalist Shashi with necessary compensation of loss caused to him in the incident.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022