Media Action Nepal denounces city police brutality against journalist
MEDIA RIGHTS MONITORING DESK-Media Action Nepal
KATHMANDU/ March 15: Inhumane acts by Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) police against constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights have resulted in the harm of a working journalist and violated the Article 19 (Right to Communication) of the Nepalese Constitution, said Media Action Nepal. Such egregious violations demand accountability from the Metropolitan authorities, the statement issued on Thursday (14th March) reads.
On February 28, around 8 o’clock in the evening, in the Sundhara area of Kathmandu, a clash broke out between city’s police and footpath vendors. At the same time, Padam Prasad Pokharel, a journalist, was returning from New Road after shopping. When he saw such an atrocity by Metro Police, he did not hesitate to grab his camera and begin doing his job. However, Metro Police began to thrash Padam, as well as footpath vendors.
Padam shouted, displaying his press ID, that he is a working journalist. After learning that he is a journalist, the police became more brutal, thrashing him inhumanely and continuing to boot and bang on the way to Tripureshwor Police Circle. Padam, a permanent resident of Pyuthan, Nau Bahini Rural Municipality, Ward 8, stated that he had travelled to Kathmandu for official and business purposes for ten days. “I was waiting for Pathao (a ride sharing app), and in the meantime, I took advantage of the opportunity and began reporting it; however, city police thrashed me brutally, causing me to sustain a severe injury.”
He stated, “A team of city police led by SP Manoj Lamichhane did not only boot me; he seized my camera, a laptop with mouse, my phone, my press ID card, and my camera bag, as well as approximately Nepali rupees 8,000 in clothes that I had purchased for my family members and rupees 2000 in sweets and chocolates.”
On the other hand, Article 19(2) of the constitution of Nepal stipulates that “no radio, television, online or other form of digital or electronic equipment, press or other means of communication publishing, broadcasting or printing any news item, feature, editorial, article, information or other material shall be closed or seized, nor shall registration thereof be cancelled, nor shall such material be seized by the reason of publication, broadcasting or printing of such material through any audio, audio-visual or electronic equipment or press.”
Additionally, Janmadev Jaisi, chair of Working Journalists Association of Nepal (WOJAN), has been staging protest along with Padam in front of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office for three days, Speaking with Media Action Nepal, he expressed that Padam did not only sustain the injuries; his ligament of a leg has been shattered due to brutal use of force upon him, and he was admitted for three days to National Trauma Centre.
“Three days ago, we submitted a letter to the Mayor of KMC, Balendra Shah; he accepted it, and a meeting was scheduled between the Chief Administrative Officer of KMC,” he said. “However, the meeting did not go well; CAO Pradip Pariyar agreed to return his gadgets and take care of his hospital bills, but no written agreement was reached, and we have heard nothing from KMC since.”
If KMC does not act quickly to address such inhumane acts by city police and meet our demands, we will protest more vigorously, Jaisi said.
Meantime, in a show of solidarity with WOJAN and the journalists in protest, Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal, participated in the protest on Thursday denouncing these unjust actions against media. Pant emphasized the need for metropolitan authorities to hold accountable those responsible for the egregious acts against the media.
