Journalists face death threats from goons backed by municipal chair
KATHMANDU | May 1: Media Action Nepal condemns the death threats made against journalists in Morang district of Koshi province. A group of seven journalists who traveled to Gramthan of Morang on April 28 to report on illegal river resource extraction were threatened with death.
The goons protected by Gramthan Rural Municipality Chairman Namo Narayan Majhi abused and threated journalists Mohan Dhakal, Dumarlal Mehta, Santosh Mehta, Nagendra Khadka, Prabhesh Timsina, Brahmadev Mahato, and Dipendra Kumar Sah. The affected journalists claim that Majhi has also threatened them.
Journalist Mohan Dhakal shared with Media Action Nepal that a group under Chairman Majhi’s protection had threatened to kill them when they arrived to collect news. Journalists claim that he has also warned them not to report on the village again.
Speaking with Narendra Dhakal, Koshi Province Coordinator of Media Action Nepal, Chairman Majhi stated that he did not threaten to kill them. He claimed that he did not obstruct the journalist from reporting, but rather asked him not to cause trouble for the workers and to come to his office to understand the truth. He stated that he is serious about press freedom and the safety of journalists. Chairman Majhi admitted that there was an argument between him and the journalist while reporting on Lohandra Khola in Gramthan Rural Municipality-4
Media Action Nepal demands an investigation into the incident of threats made against journalists with the intent of physically attacking them, despite the fact that there is a way to approach the appropriate authorities if someone is dissatisfied with the news.
Media Action Nepal demands an investigation into the incident of threats made against journalists with the intent of physically attacking them, despite the fact that there is a way to approach the appropriate authorities if someone is dissatisfied with the news.