Media Action Nepal condemns attacks against journalists
KATHMANDU | August 12: Media Action Nepal has expressed deep concern over the escalating attacks and threats against journalists across the country. The latest case involves Avenues Television correspondent Baidyanath Yadav, who was covering protests in Saptari district’s Rajgadh Rural Municipality after the police shooting of 37-year-old Lalu Yadav on August 6, according to the Media Action Nepal’s Madhesh Province coordinator, Hadis Khudar.
In a separate incident, employees of the Naugad Rural Municipality in Darchula district of Sudurpaschim province threatened and accused journalist, Hari Prasad Joshi, of various news-related charges. Speaking with Media Action Nepal, Joshi shared that he had followed the event cautiously and published news based on facts and truth. “Following publication of the news on the Gatishil News’s Facebook Page, which was based on a public hearing programme held by the rural municipality on July 31. They made several threats to me. However, after press statements and interventions from authorities, they realized that officials had made a mistake,” he told Media Action Nepal.
Similarly, Rajkumar Yadav, a journalist based in Rautahat district of Madhesh province was beaten up and seriously injured by some people, including Bivek Sah, the son of legislator Prabhu Sah, who is also the Aam Janata Party president. According to Medai Action Nepal’s Madhesh Provicne Coordinator, Yadav was injured as a result of an attack on July 24 by Bivek, Ranjit Sah, Antij Sah, and Antij’s son while on duty collecting news. Reports have also claimed that attacks were carried out against Yadav on Prabhu Sah’s instruction. Rajkumar Yadav can be seen panting in a room in Maulapur, Rautahat, in a video posted to Facebook. He could also be seen conversing with police that he was merely there for reporting but was attacked by Rajesh Sah and Bivek Sah. He can also be heard saying in the video, “The son of Prabhu Sah beat me up while I was reporting.”
In another incident, Kantipur daily’s Udayapur correspondent Rakesh Nepali was obstructed and misbehaved during the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s city convention on August 2, at the Hotel Empire Inn in Triyuga Municipality-3 of Udayapur district of Koshi province. According to Kantipur’s report, leader Sarin Tamang blocked reporter Rakesh Nepali from taking photos/videos at an official event and confiscated cameras.
“The increasing number of violations against media is deeply condemnable and anti-democratic,” said Laxman Datt Pant, Founder and the Executive Director of Media Action Nepal. Media Action Nepal urges the relevant authorities to investigate these incidents and take appropriate legal action against the perpetrators to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.
Media Action Nepal urges the authorities to investigate these incidents and take appropriate legal actions against the perpetrators to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.