Media Action Nepal slams senior advocate for assaulting journalist, seeks public apology
KATHMANDU | June 6: Media Action Nepal has condemned the assault on journalist Umesh Karki by Senior Advocate Shambhu Thapa while Karki was carrying out his duties. Karki, a photojournalist at Nepal Press, an online news portal, told Media Action Nepal that although attacks on journalists are unfortunately frequent, he was particularly shocked and disheartened to experience such behavior from someone of Senior Advocate Thapa’s stature.
“I have recently encountered three attacks, one at the Supreme Court, another at Singha Durbar (government executive secretariat) and on Thursday, June 5, around 6:15 PM in the evening at CPN (Unified Socialist) Party Office at Aloknagar in Kathmandu,” he said.
After news broke that former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was facing a corruption case following a charge-sheet filed by Nepal’s anti-graft body, reporters and photojournalists gathered to cover the story. According to Karki, Nepal had called lawyers for consultation in the case.
“I wanted to capture a photo of Senior Advocate Shambhu Thapa alongside former Law Minister Govinda Bandi. In response, Thapa attacked my camera,” Karki told Media Action Nepal. He added that video evidence of the incident, including footage showing Thapa assaulting him, is available on various social media platforms, including Nepal Press’s official handles.
“It is deeply troubling that a senior advocate, who claims to have fought for democracy and the rule of law, would resort to violence against a journalist simply performing his duty. Such an act is not only unacceptable but a serious offense against press freedom,” said Laxman Datt Pant, Founder and Executive Director of Media Action Nepal. We call on Thapa to publicly respect the role of the media and issue an unreserved apology for his actions, Pant added.
It is deeply troubling that a senior advocate, who claims to have fought for democracy and the rule of law, would resort to violence against a journalist simply performing his duty. Such an act is not only unacceptable but a serious offense against press freedom.
Featured photo: Screenshot from video footage showing senior advocate Shambhu Thapa assaulting journalist Umesh Karki during news coverage.