100 Journalists Arrested In Nepal

Guardian

Julia Day

Tuesday April 11, 2006

Almost 100 journalists have been arrested in Nepal in the six days since nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations began in the Himalayan country.

Reporters Sans Frontiers claims 97 journalists have been arrested and 24 injured since April 5, with at least 20 reporters remaining in detention.

Journalists covering the protests have been threatened, injured or arrested, according to the international press watchdog, including leaders of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists who have been targeted by security forces.

RSF said most were arrested by the police and army without warrants.

The organisation is urging the Nepali government to release the imprisoned reporters immediately and to allow journalists to move around the country freely.

And it has called for privately owned media to be issued with official permits, allowing reporters to travel during the curfew hours that have been imposed in several Nepalese cities.

But the media are also coming under attack from pro-democracy protesters.

On April 9, when 18 journalists were arrested in the west-central town of Butwal while demonstrating against the arrest of colleagues, protesters in Kathmandu attacked vehicles belonging to the Himalayan Times and the Annapurna Post.

Tens of thousands of protesters in Nepal have defied curfews on the streets of Kathmandu and other cities to oppose King Gyanendra, who seized power in February 2005. At least three people have died, scores have been injured and dozens more arrested.

The general strike against the king, due to end yesterday, has been extended by an alliance of Nepal's seven most important political parties, supported by Maoist insurgents.

UK citizens were today advised by the British Foreign Office "against all but essential travel" to Nepal because of the risk of getting caught up in violence on the streets.