JOURNALISTS' VEHICLES VANDALIZED, NEWSPAPERS BURNED

21 February 2008
Jhapa, Nepal
 
Vehicle vandalized
 
     
Vehicle of Kantipur Publications and 8,000 copies of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies were burnt down by the cadres of Federal Limbhuwan State Council (FLSC) at around 5 am on 20 February at Surunga - Birtamod road, an eastern region of Nepal.
 
According to Sanjaya Santoshi Rai, vice president of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), vehicle moving to Jhapa was stopped by a dozen of FLSC cadres and set on fire saying, the news published on Kantipur daily made their activists arrested. Driver Hom Moktan and distributor Ganga Ram Bhandari were taken under control by FLSC activists and their mobile phones were also confiscated before they torched the vehicle.
 
FNJ has condemned the attacked and urged the concerned group to stop hindering media persons to continue their duties.

    Pradeep Kaphle
       Nepal


 20 February, 2008
Journalists attacked
 
Gokul Shrestha reporter and Amrit Bhatta cameraperson of Sagarmatha Television were attacked by a mob on 15 February at Bhaktapur, Sallaghari, a neighboring district of capital city Kathmandu .
 
According to Narayan Sundar Kilambu, president of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Bhaktapur Chapter a group of assailants attacked journo duo while they were covering news about the protest rally carried out by locals against the police's soft treatment towards Mike Deula and his father, who had allegedly killed Krishna Prasad Suwal of Ward 14 of Bhaktapur on Wednesday night.
 
Kilambu said that the protesters burnt down the motorbike used by the duo and break the camera carried by Bhatta. They received scratches on there hands.
 
Similarly Ganesh Sah news correspondent of Janaki FM was attacked by a security personnel on 13 February at Golbazar, Siraha, a district situated at eastern region of Nepal .
 
According to Dineshwor Prasad Gupta, president of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Siraha Chapter, Sah was attacked by personnel of Armed Police Force, while he was covering the clash between cadres of Madhesi Morcha and the police force on Wednesday evening. Sah received injury on his head with 7-8 stitches. Police personnel attacked him saying that he is there to burn the police vehicle. After injuring him they took them to Lahan Hospital and forced doctor to write false report that the journalist has taken alcohol.  Sah is undergoing treatment at Lahan Hospital .
 
Like that Subodh Singh Tharu, cameraperson of Nepal Television was attacked by cadres of United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF) and Federal Republic National Front (FRNF) on 17 February at around 1:00pm at Banke, Nepalgunj, mid-western region of Nepal . 
 
According to Hemanta Kafle treasurer of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), cadres of UDMF and FRNF attacked Tharu while taking out his camera to cover the protest program. Protesters are not allowing any camerapersons to cover their protest.  UDMF and FRNF has called indefinite band program from 13 February onwards.
 
In Biratnagar also Bijaya Kumar Pathak, editor/publisher of Birat Darpan, a local weekly was attacked by cadres of the Madheshi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) on 16 February at Mahavir Chowk of Biratnagar, Morang, an eastern region of Nepal .
 
Issuing a press statement Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Morang chapter states that cadres of MPRF attacked him asking why he had not reported their news while he was collecting news about the protest program organized by MPRF and Federal Republic National Front (FRNF). Cadres also damaged his motorbike.
 
MPRF and FRNF has called indefinite band program from 13 February onwards. 
 
FNJ has condemned the attack on journalists and urged protesters not to hinder journalists to carry out their duties. The federation has urged concerned group to take a strong action against the assailants.

Pradeep Kaphle
Nepal

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