Freedom Forum is shocked to learn about flurry of attacks, threats, manhandles on journalists and vandalism on press vehicles across the country on May 20, 2012.
First of its kind, Nepali media and journalists saw toughest time with rampant attacks and threats on them today in course of the nationwide banda (general shutdown) called by various ethnic communities spearheaded by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN).
According to the reports Freedom Forum's Media Monitoring Desk received till now, the banda enforcers have turned violent towards journalists and media houses.
The banda enforcers and supporters of the Tharuhat Struggle Committee attacked Hari Sharma, Reporter with the Image Channel from Nawalparasi, district in the western plain of Nepal and broke his hand while making news about the banda today.
In the name of rights, the NEFIN and other ethnic groups have organized three-day banda throughout the country beginning from today. While various other groups out of the capital city are also in banda which have left journalists in jeopardy.
Media persons have been targeted by the protesters. The violation of press freedom has worried the media persons and rights defenders now.
With this, a chaos is likely to follow in the days ahead which would undoubtedly suppress journalists' rights and citizens' right to information.
Freedom Forum therefore strongly urges the agitating groups to respect others' rights while protesting for their rights. More importantly they need to be restraint and media friendly in spite of imposing news on media.
Similarly, the government must provide security to the media houses and journalists working in risk throughout the country to protect people's right to information.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022