Media Action Nepal denounces threats to women journalist, content creator
KATHMANDU | June 28: Media Action Nepal has denounced threats made to journalist Chandani Jha and content creator Rama Basnet. According to Media Action Nepal Madhesh Province coordinator Hadis Khudar, TV Today Journalist Chandani Jha was verbally abused and misbehaved by the ward chairperson during her reporting work.
Jha had reached to cover road construction work in Dhanusha Dham Municipality-3 on June 21. Ward Chair Jaynarayan Yadav was trying to reduce the road’s width from 18 feet to 10 feet, according to a local media report. The report states that Yadav instructed his cadres to slap journalist Jha.
Jha speaking with Media Action Nepal that this has occurred multiple times with her. “The ward chairperson instructed hooligans sent by him to attack me physically and dismantle my cameras and equipment. However, I have not received much support from authority and my own fraternity, perhaps I am a woman journalist, that is why,” she questioned. Had I been a male journalist, this would not have happened, or even the authorities would have taken my case seriously, she lamented.
I have not received much support from authority and my own fraternity, perhaps I am a woman journalist, that is why, she questioned. Had I been a male journalist, this would not have happened, or even the authorities would have taken my case seriously, she lamented.
She further said, “Even my own fraternity seems divided on supporting and defending journalists when they are attacked or assaulted. I have even appealed through my Facebook live to help me get through this tough phase of my life.” Jha has been contributing and working in various media outlets for six years as a journalist. She is constantly abused and subjected to disparaging remarks in order to demoralise her.
Tiktoker Basnet released
Meanwhile, TikToker Rama Basnet, who had criticized Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in a video, has been released on a bail of NPR 30,000. The Kathmandu District Court, under the single bench of Judge Bishnu Prasad Upadhyay, issued the release order on June 25 in a case filed under the Electronic Transactions Act. She was arrested on Sunday, June 15, on charges of defaming political leaders, including the Prime Minister.
Earlier, the Supreme Court sought an explanation for TikToker Rama Basnet’s detention. A writ petition filed by Rama’s father, Baldev Basnet, was heard by Justice Kumar Regmi, who issued a show cause order. Rama, who had been living in Bhaktapur with her permanent residence in Khotang, was arrested on charges in accordance with the Electronic Transaction Act, 2008. On June 23, a habeas corpus writ was filed, alleging that Rama was arrested and detained unlawfully.