Leaders in Nepal target journalists with threats and attacks
KATHMANDU | November 5: Media Action Nepal has expressed deep concern over the recent rise in incidents of threats, assaults, and intimidation against journalists across Nepal, condemning these acts as serious attacks on press freedom.
Kishor Singh Rathore, Deputy General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, misbehaved with journalist Prakash Bam of Kantipur Television. The incident took place on November 4 at the central office of the Nepali Congress in Kathmandu, where Bam had gone to cover a news story. Rathore verbally abused and attempted to assault the journalist after being questioned about the proposals discussed at the party’s Central Committee meeting.
Similarly, CPN (UML) leader and former Industry Minister Mahesh Basnet has issued a death threat against senior journalist and Janastha Weekly editor Kishor Shrestha. The threat, made publicly via social media on October 29, followed a news story published the same day in Janastha Weekly and its online edition.
Talking to Media Action Nepal Shrestha shared, “I have faced many forms of intimidation before, but a public death threat from a political leader shows how intolerant our society is becoming toward critical journalism.” Adding that he has been receiving abusive messages and is concerned about his family’s safety, Shrestha said, “If questioning those in power and informing the public is a crime, then journalists like us are being punished for doing our duty,”
Nepalpress.com reporter Keshab Bhul received threatening phone calls from three different unknown numbers on October 27, 28, and 29, each using abusive language and warning him to “be aware” or face death. These threats emerged after Bhul published an article on Nepalpress.com at 7 PM on October 27, related to Netra Bikram Chand (Biplab), the leader of Nepal Communist Party (Biplab). Following the publication, Bharat C, a senior leader of the party issued online threats, using obscene language and explicitly saying he would kill the journalist.
On October 30, the house of journalist Ganesh Pandey in Besisahar, Lamjung district of Gandaki Province, was vandalized in an attack. During the night, stones were thrown at his residence, causing significant damage to the property.
In a recent incident, journalist Rajesh Kumar Karn was assaulted in Janakpur. According to Hadis Khuddar, Madhesh Province Coordinator of Media Action Nepal, the attack took place on the evening of November 2, when Dipak Raya allegedly assaulted Karn near his residence in Ward No. 4 of Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City.
Responding to the growing number of threats against journalists, Laxman Datt Pant, Founding Chair of Media Action Nepal, said, “Political leaders must refrain from abusing or intimidating journalists.” Pant added that such threatening calls and misbehavior are completely unacceptable in a democracy.
Political leaders must refrain from abusing or intimidating journalists.
Media Action Nepal urges authorities to take immediate and decisive action against all individuals and political leaders involved in misbehaving with, threatening, and attacking journalists, ensuring that such acts do not go unpunished and that press freedom and journalists’ safety are fully upheld in Nepal.