Uwazi

Publisher and editor of Rapti Sonari daily newspaper Hemant Chaudhary was beaten severely for reporting news on March 29 in Banke. Banke lies in Lumbini Province of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, Chaudhary shared that he had published news about illegal transport of crushed stones from the Rapti Sonari Municipality of Banke and the arrest of local youths with illegal drugs. In both the news, police arrested the accused with the help of journalist Chaudhary.

Thereafter, Chaudhary started to receive numerous threats through phone calls. Even after the attack, he has been receiving threats of shooting to death.

"Now, am under the security of Nepal police, they are also searching for the attackers", he informed.

Journalist Chaudhary has sustained injuries on his back and legs from the attack.

Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the brutal attack upon a journalist for doing his job. Despite the availability of alternate ways to express discontent over news published, attacking and threatening journalists is deplorable. Such incidents are detrimental to the free press and the right to information.

Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to identify the attackers as soon as possible and punish them as per law thus ensuring justice to the journalists.

Nepal Press Freedom

Chandra Man Shrestha Secretary of Karnali province chief mistreated the officials of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) who on March 2 came to discuss the demands of the Badi community of Karnali demanding food, cloth, and shelter and about the initiatives being taken by the Karnali state government. While the issue was being discussed, Shrestha called the police and used force to get the NHRC- Nepalgunj chief Jhankar Rawal out of the office.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)’s Nepaljung Office has claimed that the provincial government’s high-ranking officials had mistreated its monitoring team.

The monitoring team had reached the provincial government’s office to inquire about its view and response towards the ongoing protest of Badi people in Karnali Province.

The team, according to the NHRC, is said to have faced ill-treatment at the hands of the chief secretary of the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, Karnali Province, Chandraman Shrestha, and secretary at the Ministry for Social Development, Loknath Poudel.

As many as 440 families from the Badi community, marginalized and most impoverished communities, from Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot, Jajarkot and Salyan districts have been protesting in front of the Office of the Chief

Ministers and Council of Ministers, Karnali Province Government for over 10 days. Their demands include accommodation, education, health and employment.

A press statement issued by NHRC’s spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel here today said that a letter has been written to the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Minister and Chief Secretary of the Karnali Province, Chandraman Shrestha to provide the factual details about the incident.

The letter notes, “The NHRC has received a report which states that the monitoring team was ridiculed with questions such as “Why should we furnish you the details? Are you the Commissioner to whom we are obliged to furnish the details?” and the officials ordered the sub-inspector of police to get rid of the monitoring team.”

The NHRC has asked the erring provincial government officials to provide them the detail of the incident on that day within three days. The human rights watchdog has said that the monitoring team was working in compliance with the role and responsibilities stipulated in the constitution of Nepal and the prevailing law and has demanded the detailed report of the incident as per the Constitution of Nepal and the Human Rights Commission Act-2068 BS.

Nepalmonitor | Nepalese Voice

Executive editor at https://freepressnepal.com/ (an online news portal) Bikash Shrestha was arrested today from Balaju, Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.

Freedom Forum has learned that Shrestha was arrested for taking pictures of the arrested locals inside the police custody.

Nepal Police has arrested few activists of road expansion victim struggle committee for protesting at the metropolitan's construction site.

Talking to FF, an officer said that reporter Shrestha was arrested for taking pictures inside the station. He will be released few hours later after deleting the photos and videos, he informed.

Freedom Forum is concerned over the incident as it is gross violation of press freedom. Police station is a public place and a journalist has right to report the activities in the [public places. However, police officers statement that journalists are not allowed to report inside the station is unlawful. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to respect the constitutionally guaranteed rights to free press and demands immediate release of the journalist without damaging reporting coverage.

Nepal Press Freedom

Nepal Police misbehaved with the reporter to https://www.khojsanchar.com/ (an online news portal) Pragya Thaiba in Kathmandu on February 24. Kathmandu is the capital city situated in the Bagmati Province of Nepal.

Photojournalist Thaiba shared with Freedom Forum that while she was reporting on conflict among locals and police persons at police station, one of the officers seized her camera with the order from Police Inspector.

The officer also warned her that she was not allowed to take pictures or videos on the office premises. Later, they deleted the pictures and returned back the camera, she added.

Police had arrested the members of Valley Road Expansion Vitim Struggle Committee for protesting at the metropolitan construction site.

Freedom Forum expresses serious concern over intimidation on photojournalist and deletion of photo from her camera because it is sheer violation of press freedom. Reporting on the issues of public concern is the journalists' rights.

Nepal Press Freedom

Two youths were arrested from the protest against the government in Pyuthan district on February 16 . Pyuthan lies in Lumbini Province of Nepal.

As per the information received at Freedom Forum, cadres of the student wing of Nepali Congress party Tuna Ram Khatri and Sagar GM were arrested for protesting against the government. They have been reported that they chanted slogans against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, decrying his move to dissolve parliament.

Lately, political parties, leaders and their student wings have been protesting against the dissolution of the House of Representatives in Nepal. The case is currently in sub judice in court.

Freedom Forum has recorded many other incidents of violation of freedom of speech in different parts of country. A week back, a female youth leader was briefly detained for her speech. She was released after severe criticism.

Freedom Forum shows concern over the arrest of citizens for exercising their right to speech. It urges the concerned security agency to release them and respect their fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.

Nepal Press Freedom

A municipality chief threatened www.thahakhabar.com 's Jumla based reporter Dil Maya Shahi through telephone call today (February 21). Jumla lies in Karnali Province of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum's monitoring desk, Shahi shared that she had written a news critical to the Chandannath Municipality's Mayor Kantika Sejuwal. After the publication of news, Sejuwal call Shahi and threatened for writing the news.

"She spoke abusive and also called me to her office in threatening voice", said Shahi, "later, I knew that Sejuwal along with her daughter were preparing to attack me at office."

"Being a reporter, I have right to report on the important issues and Mayor being a public personality should accept criticism and deal in other ways for dissatisfaction over the news", claimed reporter Shahi.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is gross violation of press freedom. Government has always been intolerant to the media criticism. Despite availability of the legal provisions to report about any dissatisfaction over published news, government authority's intimidation to the reporter is deplorable.

Nepal Press Freedom

Police have arrested 6 right activists on the charge of protesting for the justice of Nirmala Pant in Kanchanpur on February 22. Among the arrested were Sarada Chand, Anandi Rana, Laxmi Malla, Nirmala Joshi Bhatt, Khadak Bisht, and Mina Bhandari.

Right activities staged a symbolic protest demanding justice for Nirmala Pant, who was killed after being raped while Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was laying the foundation stone of Daiji Chhela Industrial Area in Kanchanpur. They protested wearing a t-shirt with the caption " where is the murder of Nirmala Pant?".

Nepal Monitor

Post photojournalist Kabin Adhikari sustained injuries on Thursday while taking photographs of a demonstration at New Baneshwor against the arrest of Ram Kumari Jhakri on charges of offence against the state.

Adhikari's ankle is fractured, physicians attending him said.

He is undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, Adhikari was injured when the police baton-charged the protestors near the Everest Hotel.

Jhankri was arrested by the police from her residence at Shankhamul on Thursday afternoon.

Soon after the arrest, there was widespread condemnation of her arrest saying that the government tried to curb freedom of speech.

Police have released Jhakri on Thursday evening after the leaders of various parties demanded the release.

Meanwhile, the Photo Journalists Club wished Adhikari a speedy recovery and urged the agitating parties and the government to create a conducive environment for the media to operate in and the flow of information.

Kathmandu Post

An online news portal www.rupaantaran.com has been blocked since January 21. The news portal was run by a noted journalist Kishor Nepal from Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.

Two weeks ago, journalist Nepal wrote in a tweet - 'My only news portal has been blocked. What the anger with the words! It hurts a lot for being censored for practicing press freedom and freedom of expression.'

He has further accused 'cyber army' of blocking the website reasoning he used to write news and opinions critical to the government.

In this connection, Freedom Forum made an inquiry on Cyber Crime Bureau of Nepal Police, which responded that they were uninformed about the case.

Similarly, Assistant Director at Nepal Telecommunication Authority, Sunil Khatiwada, confirmed that the site was not been blocked by NTA.

Whether the news portal is blocked or banned, it has violated internet freedom, freedom of expression and press freedom. It is a violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution. Lately, the cyber-surveillance has grown in Nepal, which might have the hand behind it as journalist Nepal guessed. The misuse of authority to suppress citizen's rights can not be imagined in democratic system. If any side had dissatisfaction over the news content, legitimate move of complaints could be adopted rather than blocking the website.

Freedom Forum therefore urges the concerned authorities to facilitate for the immediate restoration of news portal run by noted journalist Nepal.

Nepal Press Freedom

The KP Sharma Oli administration’s intolerance of dissent and civil liberty was in full display on Monday. Police on Monday afternoon brutally charged members of civil society, who had gathered under the umbrella of Brihat Nagarik Andolan, when they were marching towards Baluwatar to protest against Oli’s decision to dissolve the House on December 20.

In a statement in the evening, Brihat Nagarik Andolan said that the government forcefully led the peaceful protest into a violent clash.

“The police intervention in a peaceful protest shows KP Sharma Oli government’s fearful and suppressive mindset,” reads the statement.

Monday’s demonstration had started from ‘Kamal Pokhari’, which has drawn heritage conservationists’ attention of late because of the authorities’ bid to turn it into a “concrete pond”.

Renowned personalities including writers Narayan Wagle, Khagendra Sangraula, Ujjwal Prasain, Yug Pathak, professor Sanjeev Upreti, activist Rita Shah, social campaigner and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC, human rights activist Mohna Ansari, Communist Party of Nepal leader Raghuji Pant and actor Dahayang Rai, among others, led the protest.

But no sooner had the demonstrators reached close to Baluwatar, the official residence of Prime Minister Oli, than police charged batons and used water cannons to disperse them, in what was reminiscent of the days when protesters were assaulted during the 2006 movement, which is dubbed the second Jana Andolan, the first being the 1990 movement.

The 1990 movement ushered in democracy in the country and the second culminated in the abolition of monarchy.

In a video clip by photojournalist Narayan Maharjan of Setopati, an online news portal, Wagle is seen falling down due to the force of the water cannon, and many others being brutally beaten up by police.

“We were holding a peaceful protest. Without prior information, police used force on us,” said Wagle. “This is the beginning of the third Jana Andolan.”

Oli faces charges of behaving as though he is the state, and since dissolving the House, he has been making statements, branding all who criticise him as anti-national forces.

His aversion to civil liberty and peaceful protests had become apparent just after he assumed office, as he had banned protests at Maitighar.

Civil society members and rights defenders have called Oli’s House dissolution move unconstitutional, saying he has committed a fraud on the constitution because it does not allow him to do so.

Despite a dozen writ petitions against his move being heard by the Supreme Court, Oli has been making claims that the court cannot revive the House, in what many say his attempts to influence the judiciary.

“The Oli government has failed to show regard for democrotic norms,” Uprety, the professor, told the Post. “The state is so fearful of its own citizens that it is not even allowing them to speak.”

Earlier on Monday, police had rounded up around two dozen rights defenders from the Baluwatar area for protesting against the House dissolution.

Police, however, said no arrests were made during the civil society protest.

“A few people might have sustained minor injuries but we did not arrest anyone,” said Senior Superintendent Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, also the spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari.

Shrestha defended security personnel’s baton-charge and use of water cannon, saying “minor force” was used as the protesters were attempting to enter the prohibited zone.

“Five protesters and as many security personnel were injured,” said Shrestha. “But all those injured protesters have returned home after receiving treatment at TU Teaching Hospital.”

But the campaigners in their statement said that over a dozen people were injured.

“Six critically injured persons including Nirga Raj Jaishi, Janak Dhungana, Suroj Tamang, Kuldip Sharma, Sunil Shrestha and Govida Bhandari are receiving treatment at TU Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj,” read the statement.

Earlier in June also, police had used force on youths who were demonstrating at Baluwatar against the Oli government’s lacklustre response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Basanta Ranjitkar, one of the coordinators of the Brihat Nagarik Andolan, said Monday’s was a planned attack from the government side.

“A democratic government never behaves in the way the Oli government has done today,” said Rajitkar. “No regime is afraid of the people unless it has committed anything wrong. Since the Oli regime has lost its legitimacy, it is too afraid of the people.”

Police on Monday afternoon detained around two dozen human rights activists and civil society members who had gathered in Baluwatar, Kathmandu to protest against the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

Police said all those detained have been kept at the Nepal Police Club.

Kathmandu Post | Nepalmonitor

Nepal Police arrested citizens for protesting peacefully at a program in Dhangadhi on January 8. Dhangadhi lies in the Sudurpaschim Province of Nepal.

Local youths Binod Khadka, Aarud Sah, Sagar Joshi, Rajendra Shahi, Pravin Khadka, Suresh Joshi, and Naresh Prasad Joshi were arrested for wearing t-shirt with slogans- Where is the rapist of Nirmala Panta?

Nirmala Panta, a 13-year old girl was raped and murdered in Kanchanpur in 2018. The locals claim the 'accused is still roaming scot-free'. The investigation authority had earlier stated that the perpetrator would be arrested soon but no action has been taken yet.

The youths had worn t-shirts to create pressure on government to arrest and punish the rapist and murderer of Nirmala Panta. The program was being addressed by the Prime Minister.

Other attendees in the program also shared that they were not even allowed to wear black mask.

Youths were detained for four hours and released later, informed chief of District Police Office, Kailali.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is gross violation of citizen's right to peaceful protest. It has resulted in suppression of freedom of expression. Such incidents represent government's authoritarian move and intolerance towards public criticism. Citizen's right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest is guaranteed by Nepal's constitution.

Nepal Press Freedom

Reporter with Dhangadhi-based Dinesh FM Narayan Awasthi received threats of attack through telephone for reporting news in Dhangadhi on December 11. Dhangadhi is situated in Sudurpaschim Province of Nepal.

According to Freedom Forum's representative Min Bam, news about a payment released without any work progress in the infrastructure development program led by Province's Assembly Member Nepalu Chaudhary was aired via FM radio on December 9.

Again on December 10, news claiming payments made on the basis of ‘only paper works’ in the area of Parliamentarian Chaudhary was published on www.dineshkhabar.com.

Following the publication of news, Ram Chandra Chaudhary calling himself a member of Municipality Committee Secretariat called on the phone and threatened Awasthi of physical assault using abusive words, said representative Bam.

Thereafter, Awasthi called Parliamentarian Chaudhary to inform him about the threat but the Parliamentarian in turn, replied that he deserves punishment for writing fake news and that he did not report in their favor.

However, FF has noted that reliable local sources have been quoted in the above-mentioned news.

Reporter Awasthi has informed local administration about the incident and is preparing to file a complaint against them, informed Bam.

Nepal Press Freedom

Chief Editor at https://www.kathmandukhabar.com/ Keshav Raj Pathak was issued death threat for reporting news in Kathmandu on December 16. Kathmandu is the federal capital of Nepal.

During conversation with Freedom Forum's media monitoring desk, editor Pathak shared that he has been reporting on various issues of illegal excavation and plotting of land in Budhanilkantha municipality. Recently the municipality and district forest authority had restricted ongoing plotting of land in the municipality following a complaint filed by Pathak.

"On the day of incident, two masked men approached me while walking along the plotting area and threatened saying- this is our plot; you have risked your life doing this so now bear consequences", said Pathak.

He further said that he has also informed local authority including Metropolitan Police Range about the incident requesting his safety.

Freedom Forum is concerned over the incident as it is sheer violation of press freedom. Despite availability of the legitimate ways to show dissatisfaction over news published, hostile behavior meted out against journalists time and again is worrying. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to ensure safety of the journalists and avoid any mishaps in future

Nepal Press Freedom

Arjun Giri, editor at https://www.tandavnews.com/ (an online news portal) was issued threat of physical assault. He got such threat by a phone in Pokhara on December 23. Pokhara lies in Gandaki Province of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, Giri shared that a senior reporter with the online, Madhav Bhusal, had reported news entitled- 'sexual assault on women: a blot on the image of a religious guru Prakash' on December 20. An unknown person called on Bhusal's mobile and asked for the proof of the content in the news.

Bhusal then forwarded the call to Giri. The caller, who introduced himself as an officer from Central Bureau of Investigation also threatened Giri saying he would send his goons to the office for publishing the baseless news.

Giri, however, claimed that he had every proof for the news and was not scared of any threats.

"But, because the person says himself a police I have reported to District Police Office and CIB Police Headquarters about the incident," Giri shared.

Freedom Forum is concerned over the threat issued to journalist for reporting news. It is a gross violation of press freedom. One can seek the Nepal Press Council's help to show concern with news contents and follow legitimate ways.

Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to investigate the case fairly and ensure security to the journalists.

Nepal Press Freedom

Jhapa-based reporter to Mountain Television Khagendra Ghimire and his camera person Bhaskar Shrestha were attacked by the government officials while reporting in a Land Revenue Office in Jhapa on December 1. Jhapa district lies in Province 1 of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum's monitoring desk, Ghimire shared, "We were recording a video of a staff (Indra Rajbanshi) receiving bribe amount Rs 10,000 from a client. Meanwhile, the staff snatched the camera."

"Following this, we went to the office of the Chief Tara Dhungel to discuss the matter but Rajbanshi along with others thrashed us on our shoulders and face," added Ghimire.

Reporter Ghimire sustained injuries on his head, chest and has been undergoing treatment at the local hospital. Cameraperson Shrestha however, escaped injury from the incident.

Ghimire has also filed a First Information Report at the Area Police station, Damak.

A team of journalists are talking to the police chief demanding the arrest of the accused, informed Ghimire to FF.

Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the incident as it is a gross violation of press freedom. Reporting on the irregularities and the issues of public concern is the duty of a journalist. Also, the citizens pay tax to receive service from the public bodies thus, they deserve fair service delivery. In this case, while asking for bribe is a crime, attacking journalists for doing their job adds to it. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to arrest and punish the attackers and ensure a fair reporting atmosphere for the journalists.

-Update- Main accused Indra Rajbanshi has been arrested on December 4 after an arrest order issued by the District Administration office and is kept under detention for further investigation at Jhapa Police Office.

Nepal Press Freedom

Nepal Police has arrested nine RTI activists while registering their RTI applications at District Ayurvedic Health Centre Parsa today (November 2). Parsa lies in the Province 2 of Nepal.

As per information received at Freedom Forum, nine activists Manoj Rouniyar (Member, National Network for RTI), Udaya Kushwaha, Pravin Manipal, Pramila Giri, Dip Narayan Prasad Yadav, Salamat Hussain Mansoor, Keshar Das, Rupesh Singh and Birendra Yadav had reached the health centre to register their RTI application separately. In the meantime, police arrested them and released however, Kushwaha and Manipal were detained for four hours.

The incident has been reported to take place with alleged involvement of the office's Chief Ramesh Mishra, Information Officer Nagendra Prasad Patel and District Police Chief.

FF's representative Rajan Singh quoted Rouniyar as saying Mishra and Patel threw their RTI applications and called the police to arrest them.

Arrested activists had filed RTI seeking information on office staff, yearly income, details about information officer and review meeting's expenditure at the office.

The nine were taken under control outside the prison after they went to Ayurveda Health Center to register a petition under the Right to Information Act on suspicion of irregularities of District (Parsa) Ayurveda Health Center such as the income and expenditure details for the fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19, fuel expenditure and certified copy of the qualifications of the staff.

They complained of being arrested without registering the application and said that it was against the human rights to be detained by the police for seeking the information as it is a fundamental right to receive information. The Club has been drawing the attention of the stakeholders by complaining that the Ayurveda office’s staff not usually present in the office, office items are used in people's homes and there is no transparency in the office.

Chief of the District Ayurveda Health Office, Dr Ramesh Mishra, said that the police arrested them due to an old scandal where the youths belonging to the Club tried to assault him by abusing the service recipients came to the centre on October 19. Meanwhile, police released them after understanding the matter from both sides.

Nepal Monitor | Nepal Press Freedom

Reporters Chitra Mijar, Anish Tiwari and Niroj Chaulagain were misbehaved while reporting in Sindhupalchowk on October 13. Sidhupalchowk lies in Bagmati Province.

Mijar and Tiwari are affiliated to Gorkhapatra and Kantipur National dailies respecively, while Chaulagain is associated with AP1 television.

Talking to Freedom Forum's monitoring desk, reporter Tiwari shared,"We were talking to the families who were forcefully displaced after a hydropower project started road construction without their consent. Meanwhile, a group of youth approached and shouted at us saying - Is this what you called journalism! Don't you have to listen to us?"

The reporters then talked to the youth and collected the voice of both sides.

"But again the youths in a group of 20-25 encircled us for at least two hours while we were heading towards the project site. Thereafter, we returned without reporting at the hydropower project site", said Tiwari. The youths had also threatened the driver for carrying journalists and vandalized their vehicle.

Further, claiming that people threatened and obstructed them while doing their job, Tiwari wondered, "Do we even have the right to report freely?"

They have also filed a complaint at the local police station. The case is under investigation.

Freedom Forum condemns the misbehavior meted out to the reporters. Reporting on the issues of public concern is the right of journalists guaranteed by the constitution. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to apologize for the misbehavior and respect journalists' rights.

Nepal Press Freedom

Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRD Alliance) condemns the cold-blooded murder of an environmental rights defender in Dhanusha district of the Tarai region, Nepal. The 24year-old Om Prakash Mahato was crushed to death by a tipper owned by a crusher company on 10 January 2020 while protesting the illegal extraction of river materials from a river located near his village. We call on the authorities to set up a parliamentary inquiry into the illegal extraction of river materials, review of existing regulations and for the company to provide compensation to the family.

CASE DETAILS On 10 January 2020, Om Prakash Mahato, who goes by the nickname ‘Dilip’, 24, of Mithila Municipality-5, Dhanusha district, was killed while he was protesting the illegal extraction of the riverbed materials from Aurahi River located near his village Shreepur Tol. The night before the incident, someone had informed Dilip that aggregates (sand and stones) were going to be extracted illegally from Aurahi river. Before he left toward the river, at around 4 am, he did not inform his family but he informed the ward chairperson by mobile phone that he was going there to confront the crusher company. His friend, Roshan Yadav, accompanied Dilip. Dhanusha District Police Chief Ramesh Kumar Basnet told the media: “He was manhandled, stabbed in the right side of his stomach with an iron lever, his body was then laid on the river bed, and run over by a truck (number Na 7 Kha 6413). We are further investigating the matter.”1 Meanwhile, Dilip’s family members told THRDA monitors that the contractors intentionally killed him. They informed that Dilip had earlier arguments with local contractors – Janak Mahato, Lochan Mahato and Bipin Mahato – who had threatened to kill him for opposing river extraction.

BACKGROUND Aurahi River lies in Mithila Municipality. The municipality awarded a contract of NPR 40.51 million to local contractors to extract river materials from the Aurahi river. The locals and farmers opposed the extraction of river materials from the deep riverbed which was beyond the permissible limit mentioned in the contract. The contactors were illegally extracting the river materials. The local farmers, including Dilip, whose fields adjoin the river, had been protesting the illegal extraction of the river materials by the contactors since it started two years ago. Dilip had repeatedly received death threats from the contractors throughout this period. He had repeatedly gotten into disputes with the owners and employees of the Churiyamai Sand Processing Centre. When Dilip did not stop his campaign against the crusher company, contractors tried to bribe him but he continued to oppose the illegal mining. The death of Dilip, who was the eldest son, is a major loss to the family. He was expected to work as an engineer soon. He was an engineering student at a university in Bhopal, India and had recently taken the final exams. He had come home to spend his vacation with his family. His parents have worked hard to pay for his tuition in India.

INVESTIGATION AND ACTION Police moved the body of Dilip for the post-mortem without preparing a crime scene report. Irate locals halted vehicle movement on the Mahendra Nagar Highway to protest it. They also demanded a stringent punishment for the killers of Dilip. On 11 January 2020, Dilip’s family lodged the First Information Report (FIR) at the District Police Office of Dhanusha district. Police assured the family that they would investigate the incident impartially and punish those responsible for his death. In a press meeting organized on 11 January 2020, police said that they arrested four persons allegedly involved: 27-year-old Bipin Kumar Mahato (owner of Churiyamai Sand Processing Centre), 34-year-old Munindra Mahato (tipper driver), another driver Jitendra Kumar Mahato (24-years-old) of Bardibas Municipality, Mahato, and 27-year-old Roshan Kumar Yadav (his friend). In a meeting of the National Assembly held on 12 January 2020, lawmakers demanded legal action against the perpetrators2. The National Assembly members also urged the government to curb ongoing illegal extraction of riverbed materials. Meanwhile, Province 2 Government on 13 January announced the payment of an ex gratia of NPR 0.5 million to Dilip’s family. In a statement released on 12 January,3 the National Human Rights Commission called the authorities to carry out an impartial and effective investigation into the case.

CALL TO ACTION Given the contemporary political scenario, human rights defenders (HRDs) in Nepal are at risk while carrying out their work. The actions and controversial bills4 such as Media Council Bill, Information Technology Bill, Nepal Special Service Bill5 introduced by the government have created fear among HRDs. The government also proposed an amendment to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act 2012 which undermines the independence of NHRC as it gives the Attorney General powers to decide which cases recommended for prosecution by the NHRC are brought before the courts, and it also abolishes the power of the NHRC to maintain regional offices. About the situation of HRDs in Nepal, Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2020 mentions: The Home Ministry prepared draft legislation that will give the government powers to monitor and control the activity of all domestic and international organizations in Nepal. Human rights defenders feared that these powers will be used to harass activists, and to deny access to external funding for human rights work. As of now, Nepal does not have specific laws or policies on the protection of HRDs. In 2009, the human rights community had drafted a human rights defenders bill7. The bill is yet to be registered in the parliament. But the discussions on the bill are underway among human rights organizations. It is high time that the human rights community and national and international stakeholders lobby the government and policy makers to enact a law on HRDs’ security. The cold-blooded murder of the environmental rights defender sends a chilling message to those carrying out human rights work in Nepal. We urge the authorities to create a conducive environment for HRDs. Despite media reports and ongoing protests staged by locals, the illegal mining of river materials in the country continues unabated. Arguably, the nexus between the contractors and local government units and politicians is responsible for this. Once again, we call on the authorities to set up a parliamentary inquiry into the illegal extraction of river materials, review of existing regulations and for the company to provide compensation to the family.

Terai HRDs Aliance

Lahan Municipality authority has been learnt to have decided to file a case against reporter Manilal Bishwakarma on August 24. Lahan lies in Province 2 of Nepal.

Talking to Freedom Forum, reporter Bishwakarma shared that he received a copy of municipality's executive committee meeting minutes three days back (September 29). The minute states the municipality had decided to file charge sheet under Electronic Transaction Act and public offense against him and a local Mahesh Chaudhary. The municipality had accused Chaudhary of distributing relief materials to the public without prior information to the municipality.

The decision came after his reporting on municipality's distribution of 'rotten raw foods as relief materials to the locals facing crisis' following lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic. In the news published on April 14, he had also included photographs of the locals who had reached the ward office to return the distributed decayed food stuffs.

Reporter Bishwakarma further said that he was also issued several threats through social media pages and the municipality’s authorities following the publication of the news. He however said, “I am ready to face whatever the consequences but I will not stop writing on such serious of govenrment irresponsibility and irregularities.”

Freedom Forum is alarmed over the decision of the local authority against journalist. While most of the people lost their earning in this pandemic, government’s relief is the major support to live. But such irresponsible behaviour of the local government towards its citizens and to the journalist is condemnable.

Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to correct the decision respecting journalists’ right to free reporting and cooperate with those for good governance at this time of crisis instead.

Nepal Press Freedom

Saptari based reporter for the Kantipur national daily Abadhesh Kumar Jha was misbehaved by a police officer while reporting on October 5. Saptari district lies in Province-2 of Nepal.

FF’s representative at Province-2 Rajan Singh reported that Jha was making notes about a discussion among women representatives, advocates and chief of police at the district police office. Women leaders had reached the office to make aware police chief Rajendra Prasad Dhamala and draw attention of security authority on increasing violence against women in the district in the recent days.

Police chief Dhamala warned that journalist Jha could not report in the district police office without police permission and ordered him (Jha) to leave the office immediately.

Freedom Forum has serious concern over the statement of police chief for it severely violates press freedom and citizens' right to information. The journalists have every right to report on the issues of public concern. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to respect rights of journalists and press freedom.

It is appalling that violence against women as rape and murder are rising rapidly across the country of late.

Nepal Press Freedom

Correspondent at Mithilanchal FM Rakesh Sah was threatened for reporting from quarantine in Dhanusha on August 25. Dhanusha lies in Province 2 of Nepal.

Reporter Sah was diagnosed positive for COVID 19 on August 18, since then, he has been staying in quarantine established by Province Governement in the local municipality.

According to FF's representative Rajan Singh, reporter Sah has been making aware the people on poor management in the quarantine through facebook live and his social media page. He has made public the poor quality of food served to the infected ones and negligence of media persons in monitoring health status of people staying in quarantine.

Following this, security officers on duty in the quarantine threatened him to stay quiet or else they would take action against him, informed representative Singh.

Threatening and silencing journalists who perform their job is sheer violation of press freedom and right to freedom of expression. FF condemns such behavior of security officials. While journalists are always reporting from the frontline even during this pandemic to disclose irregularities, intimidating those working even after being infected is intolerable. Hence, FF urges the authority to cooperate with those ensuring fair reporting atmosphere and citizen's right to information.

Nepal Press Freedom

A businessman involved in sand mining threatened editor of ramropost.com, (an online news portal) Kailash Lama through social media posts over his reporting on August 29 in Dolakha. Dolakha lies in Bagmati Province of Nepal.

According to FF's representative Ashok Dahal, journalist Lama has been continuously exposing illegal sand and pebble mining at Tamakoshi river in his reporting at Sagarmatha Television and ramropost.com online.

"On Friday (August 28) night too, following his reporting, the police arrested some individuals involved in the illegal mining. Then, the irked racketer Rajib Shrestha resorted to defamation, threat, and hate speech against Lama on his social media post," added Lama.

Talking to Dahal, Lama said that he had been facing threat from the racketeers for long after his reporting drew attention of the authorities about illegal sand mining.

"He didn't take it seriously before. But crushing industry operator Shrestha posted several posts against Lama on his Facebook spreading rumors about his professional integrity and hatred", said Dahal quoting Lama.

Also, editor Lama has filed a complaint at District Administration Office (DAO) on Sunday seeking justice and punishment against Shrestha at the earliest

Freedom Forum condemns the incident. Exposing irregularities and wrongdoings in the society is the job of journalists. Threatening and defaming those for doing their job is the sheer violation of press freedom. Hence, FF urges the concerned authority to look after the journalist's complaint and ensure security to the journalists. Also, the businessman could seek a legitimate way for any dissatisfaction over news published instead of harassing the journalists.

Nepal Press Freedom

Umesh Dube, a prominent investigative journalist who has earned his reputation for writing about corruption and malpractices has been arrested for allegedly "disturbing social peace and harmony" on 29th July, 2020. Bureau Chief of TV Today Television HD (https://bit.ly/3fn57Fm) and reporter at Sagarmatha National Television, Journalist Dube holds many caps on the journalism arena. He was arrested by District Police Office of Parsa district. Parsa lies in province 2.

As per Freedom Forum's representative for Province 2, Rajan Singh, "The dispute stated when the police made an issue warning Dube to not walk on the main road". Singh says, there is no law which prohibits anybody to walk on any road. Dube informed Singh that he was wearing a press jacket and had press card at that time. Later the same day, when Dubey posted a Facebook status saying that police's wrongdoings are not hidden from public's eye, he was arrested late in the evening.

According to DSP Manojit Kunwar, after holding him for two days, his custody is extended for 10 days as a court case against him has just been registered. They have claimed that they possess evidence where Dube has demanded money from people misusing police's name. Bijaya Kuswaha, a local journalist informed FF that the District Police Office, Parsa has the history of fabricating facts with the intention of revenge on those who speaks against the authorities. In the past, several other journalists were called out and were forced to sign papers accepting that they will not write or talk against the authorities. Journalist Dubey frequently published news regarding security officials' involvement on boarder smuggling and corruption.

Journalist Kushwaha Dube's investigative stories were the reason behind such troubles.

The action taken by the police against Dube is one of many examples where journalists are troubled by taking false legal courses in Nepal. Such action in the present has become day to day phenomenon to stop the journalists from involving in investigative reporting on the critical issues of the administration. FF demands immediate release of Dube as 10 days is the maximum amount of detention period given the nature of the case. As he has been investigated since 2 days, unfair extension infact seems like a way of teaching lesson to deter journalists from writing about the police. FF urges police to stop fabricating the facts immediately and respect the notion of free press.

Nepal Press Freedom

On 4 July 2020, woman human rights defender Bidya Shrestha Maharjan was physicallyassaulted by police officials while participating in a peaceful protest against the government�sacquisition of indigenous farm land for the building of the Expressway motorway in Khokana. Bidya Shrestha Maharjan is a teacher and human rights defender from the Kathmandu valley ofNepal. She is the women�s president of the World Newa Guthi, an indigenous communityorganization that works to protect the rights of the Newa Guthi people. An indigenous womanherself, Bidya Shrestha Maharjan has long been leading the movement to stop the illegal roadexpansion in the valley inhabited by the Newa Guthi people, which has already seen thedisplacement of thousands who have not been compensated and/or have been left landless. On 4 July 2020, Bidya Shrestha Maharjan, along with fellow activists and farmers of the indigenousNewa community from the Kathmandu valley gathered in Khokana to peacefully protest against theacquisition of land owned by indigenous Newa people. The land has been acquired for theconstruction of the proposed Expressway motorway, despite objections by the Indigenous Newa aswell as other local communities, due to concern that such mega projects will displace the entirecommunity. They have demanded that large scale projects such as the proposed motorway berelocated to more suitable locations.The peaceful protest turned violent when the armed police force intervened, lobbing tear gas shellsand charging at the crowd with batons, leaving dozens of protestors and police personnel injured.Bidya Shrestha Maharjan was beaten by armed personnel and later taken to hospital for theinjuries she incurred. Front Line Defenders is concerned by the physical attack and intimidation of woman human rightsdefender Bidya Shrestha Maharjan by police officials, as it believes this was solely due to herlegitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights and exercising her right to peacefullyassemble.

Front Line Defenders

Journalist Aash Gurung was attacked over news by Ward Chair Govinda Basnet on July2, 2020. Basnet is the Ward Chair of besisahar municipality ward number 7 of Lamjung. Lamjung lies in Gandaki Province.

Journalist Gurung is associated with Kantipur Television.

According to the Freedom Forum representative for Gandaki Province, Rajan Upadhyay, journalist Gurung was attacked over news which was about the misuse of agricultural grants. Gurung had mentioned in the news that those who had access were receiving grants without fulfilling grants criteria. He had also highlighted that one who should recommend grants were themselves misusing the grants.

On the other side, Ward Chair Basnet claimed that he had not attacked journalists instead he had suggested him to research before writing stories.

Meanwhile, journalist Gurung was criticized and threatened through social media by cadres of the political parties over the news related to misuse of grants.

FF condemns the incident as it has posed threat to journalists' right to free reporting. Threat to journalist Gurung over news also created a fearful atmosphere to other fellow journalists who are determined to do investigative reporting. Hence,FF urges concerned authority to take action and ensure fear free environment for journlaists.

Nepal Press Freedom

News chief at www.tukhabar.com (an online web-based portal) Balaram Pudasaini was misbehaved by a local Ramesh Gelal for reporting news on June 9 in Makwanpur district. The district lies in Bagmati Province of Nepal.

According to Freedom Forum's representative Rammani Dahal, journalist was reporting on difficulties farmers had to face while buying fertilizers in a place at Hetauda. In the meantime, Gelal pushed him back and verbally abused him without any reason in the presence of police officers.

Later, Police arrested Gelal and has charged him under indecent behavior following the complaint filed by journalist Pudasaini and other fellow journalists.

Freedom Forum condemns the misbehavior meted out to on-duty journalist. It is gross violation of press freedom and right to information. Abusing on-duty journalists who are working on field to make public informed about the social issues, even ignoring the possible risks of transmission of COVID19 is deplorable. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to punish the perpetrator and ensure free and safe reporting atmosphere for journalists.

Nepal Press Freedom

A peaceful programme in the Capital protesting the government's lacklustre response to the Covid-19 pandemic was met with water cannons and police batons.

Around 150 people had gathered in front of the prime minister's residence in Baluwatar at 10am on Tuesday, demanding that the government improve quarantine conditions and make wider use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction tests. They were also asking that the government come up with alternatives to the blanket lockdown imposed on the entire country since March 24.

The KP Sharma Oli government has long been criticised for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite an over two-month-long lockdown, coronavirus infections--and deaths-- continue to increase across the country. Thousands of people are in makeshift quarantine facilities that are themselves becoming hotspots for Covid-19 due to cramped conditions and a lack of basic sanitation facilities.

Calls to lift or ease the lockdown have increased too, with business owners defying orders to shutter their stores last Thursday. Many have also raised serious questions about the government�s failure to address the plight of the poor and the marginalised, who are suffering disproportionately from the lockdown after having lost jobs. There have already been a number of deaths that can attributed to the lockdown and its consequences.

The protest attempted to maintain physical distance with most attendees wearing masks and holding placards.

Though the protest was peaceful, police employed water cannons and batons to disperse the protesters. Some were taken into custody for breaking the lockdown.

�We had requested the police to give us 15 more minutes to sit in protest when the police charged," said Rohit Malla Shakya, 43, a businessman. "This is an indication that the government is getting more intolerant."

As images and videos of the protest and the police response began to circulate on social media, many called the police out for its disproportionate use of force.

�What a disgrace! This happened today during a peaceful socially distanced rally (at Baluwatar) urging the government to ramp up PCR tests and improve quarantine facilities,� said one user on Twitter. �Looks like the government cannot tolerate any form of protest that displays their incompetence.�

Senior Superintendent Shyam Gyawali, chief of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range, said that police used force to clear protesters who were disobeying lockdown orders.

�Besides, Baluwatar is a sensitive area and protests started to block the road that many VVIPs need to travel through,� Gyawali told the Post.

Protest attendees, however, said that they weren't blocking the road and were about to wrap up the protest when police resorted to a baton charge and water cannons.

�We were not blocking the road, and it was very peaceful,� said 21-year-old actor Anna Sharma.

Eight people were taken into custody by the police.

Kathmandu Post

Freedom Forum condemns the arrest of Alam Khan, a human rights activist and a member of the Federation of Nepali Journalists. He was held for writing on Facebook about the ill administration owing to the death of a person due to Covid-19 on the 20th of May, 2020. He was arrested in Banke, Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj lies in province no. 5.

According to FF's representative of province n. 5 Sudip Gautam, Alam's arrest was done by District Police Office in Nepalgunj. He was kept at the district police office for the whole day before releasing him on the condition that he appears in the police office on a daily basis. On his Facebook status, Alam also wrote that the dead person should be declared a Martyr and be compensated indicating that the mismanagement of administration caused the death.

Upon inquiry, Alam said even though no one had lodged a complaint against him, the police had arrested him.

Since the day of the arrest, Alam has been present at the Police Office on Thursday and has been told to be present every day.

Freedom Forum strongly criticizes the misuse of power by the police who have been troubling the activist who writes and advocates about the mismanagement around the COVID-19 situation. While in fact the authorities should be coordinating and collaborating with the activists inorder to enforce positive changes in the community and utilize their community reach, on the contrary, police have been unnecessarily targeting these activists to silence them. Freedom Forum urges the police headquarter to monitor the misuse of power in the local level and enforce ethical practice within the police offices. FF also urges the police offices to be mindful and respect the Free Speech which every Nepali citizen is constitutionally entitled to.

Nepal Press Freedom

A hospital staff issued death threat to Journalist Shital Sah, director at Radio Janakpur on May 13 in Dhanusha. Dhanusha lies in Province 2 of Nepal.

As per information provided by FF's representative Rajan Singh, Journalist Sah had broadcasted news about negligence and irregularities at COVID-19 testing lab in Janakpur Provincial hospital. Following this, hospital's junior staff Jugal Yadav and his two friends reached radio station and threatened the journalist to death for reporting the news.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is sheer violation of press freedom. Reporting news about irregularities and issues of public concern is the right of journalists secured by Nepal's constitution. FF strongly urges the hospital authority to adopt legitimate way for any dissatisfaction on news and respect journalists' rights thereby, ensuring citizen's access to right to information.

Nepal Press Freedom

Security officials misbehaved journalist Prem Nepali while reporting on May 5 in Kaski. Kaski lies in Gandaki Province.

Journalist Nepali is associated with Hour Tv.

According to Freedom Forum's representative for Gandaki Province, Rajan Upadhyaye, journalist Nepali was reporting about complaint filed on ethnic discrimination at District Police Office, Kaski. A group of dalit representative along with Mohan Sunar who filed complaint were at office to know about the status of complaint, but they were misbahved by the police. While capturing footage of misbehavior to Dalit representatives journalist Nepali was also treated badly and Police Inspector snatched journalist's camera.

Moreover, Inspector Deepak KC aggressively responded to journalist who said that it is not allowed to capture footage without the consent of police.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki claimed that complaint filed on ethnic discrimination is under investigation and journalist was not treated badly while inquiring about the case.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is a gross violation of press freedom and right to information. Reporting on social issues and exposing exposing irregularities is the prior duty of journalists. Hence, FF strongly urges the concerned authority to address the issue seriously respecting the rights of journalists and citizen�s right to information.

Nepal Press Freedom

Govinda KC, Dailekh correspondent to Nagarik National Daily was verbally abused and threatened of attack for reporting on April 27. Dailekh is situated in Karnali Province of Nepal.

FF's representative Laxmi Bhandari reported that reporter KC was threatened by a canteen owner Chhatra Thapa for writing news about irregularities of Narayan Municipality, Dailekh. The news entitled- irregularities on purchase of relief materials- was published on Nagarik daily on April 22.

Following news publication, municipality's canteen owner Thapa abused reporter KC at public place saying why and at what expense the news report was made.

Representative Bhandari further stated that Thapa had even called goons to attack the reporter. However, police took Thapa under control later.

Freedom Forum condemns the incident as it is violation of press freedom and lauds police action to arrest the accused. Despite the availability of legitimate ways to express dissatisfaction over published news contents, local authority's action to harass journalist is deplorable. Hence, FF urges the concerned authority to resort lawful ways and respect journalists right to free reporting.

Nepal Press Freedom

Journalists Manoj Mourbait and Sibendra Rohita were attacked on April 18 (Friday) at 8 PM on Kohalpur of Sahitnagar Municipality-9, Dhanusha. The duo journalists were assaulted by a gang of five on their way home from reporting about the COVID-19. Their laptop and camera were also seized. Dhanusha district lies in province no. 2.

Mourbait and Rohita are reporters to Janakpur Today and www.khojkendra.com (a web-based news portal) operated from Dhanusha district.

According to FF's representative Rajan Singh, a group of five people beat the duo which resulted in a deep cut in the head of journalist Rohita. Maurbait has also sustained injury due to the beating. Furthermore, they pointed towards Mayor Udaya Barbariya of Sahidnagar municipality who ordered such an attack. The duo has been admitted in Janakpur Zonal Hospital.

Rohita said, "On Friday we were making a report about the Quarantine facility of Sahid Nagar. These facilities are in a worrisome state with no proper service in place." To learn about the municipality's position on this issue, they visited the municipality office. Shortly after that, he ordered to launch an attack.

In the past too, the mayor Barbariya had threatened the Journalist Mourbait for writing news against his administration. The duo had been disclosing about the mismanagement of funds by the Barbariya's administration.

Nepal Press Freedom

Reporter to Annapurna Post national daily Raj Karan Mahato and the camera person Bibek Mahato were threatened while reporting on illegal mining in Mahottari on April 16. Mahottari lies in Province 2.

Freedom Forum's representative Rajan Singh reported that the reporters were taking videos and pictures of illegal excavation in a local river during lockdown. In the meantime, four people arrived on their motorbikes and chased away the reporters.

There reporters however escaped the attack and called local police for protection. A team led by Police Inspector Prakash Regmi reached the place to protect reporters.

Freedom Forum condemns the attempt to attack reporters. Journalists reporting on corruption and illegal activities always face intimidation. Such incidents are representative cases of press freedom violation which create panic among working journalists and induce censorship. Hence, FF strongly urges the local authority and security body to ensure safety to the journalists thereby, helping protect press freedom rights.

Nepal Press Freedom

Simara Police Office arrested journalist Rabindra Gautam for alleged spread of misleading information via his Facebook handle. He was held under cybercrime charge in Hetauda on April 14. Hetauda lies in Province 3.

Journalist Gautam is associated with Sarobar F.M.

As per Freedom Forum representative for Province 3, Rammani Dahal, journalist Gautam was arrested for allegedly posting fake information on Facebook status which simply stated: "Three Indian nationalities are detected with the Coronavirus infections in Birgunj Metropolitan City of Parsa district. The districts such as Parsa, Bara, Rautahat among others should adopt high precautionary measures. There is no reason to worry. The districts of the Terai region are safe. Let's not be terrorized instead follow the government's decision.''

Although the journalist posted information urging for precaution on the coronavirus, the police wrongfully held him and harassed unnecessarily.

A day later, after the pressure from media persons and FoE organizations that journalist had not spread misinformation, the police released him with Rs. 2000 as bail amount a day later.

Freedom Forum condemns the arrest of journo Gautam as it is a severe violation of freedom of expression. Nepal�s constitution itself guarantees the right to freedom of expression. Journo must not be treated as a criminal for posting an opinion on social media platforms.

FF urges the concerned authority to respect civil rights and demands the immediate release of Gautam.

Nepal Press Freedom

Publisher/ editor of a news portal, www.prabhavnews.com, Uttam Chaulagain was issued death threat for publishing news about a political leader on April 5. The online portal is run from Khotang, a district in Province 1 of Nepal.

According to FF's representative Bikram Niraula, Chaulagain had published news about NC Chair Naresh Kumar Shrestha's obstruction to keep Covid-19 suspects in quarantine far away from community.

Following this, Chair Shrestha had threatened, "You will see the journalist in the next meeting. You may also lose his life for writing such news."

In response to Covid-19 pandemic, Nepal's government has asked the suspected patients to stay in quarantine to minimize the risk of transmission.

At a time when free flow of information is important to keep public informed such incidents obstruct journalists from performing their duty. Freedom Forum condemns the violation of press freedom and right to information.

Nepal Press Freedom

Ajayababu Shiwakoti, the general secretary of the Nepal Press Union (NPU), received threats for his reporting on an alleged bribery scandal involving Nepal’s minister of communications and information technology. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliates the Nepal Press Union (NPU) and the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FJN) call on authorities to immediately ensure Shiwakoti’s safety.

Shiwakoti is the editor in chief of www.hamrakura.com, which published a story on February 20, linking an audio recording alleged to be that of the minister, Gokul Prasad Baskota, negotiating with Bijay Prakash Mishra, a Nepal agent of a Swiss equipment supplier on the printing of passports and other sensitive material. The recording suggested the minister would receive NPR 700,000,000 (USD 6,000,000) commission for the deal. Following the release of the two-and-a-half-minute audio recording and subsequent news coverage, the minister resigned from his post on February 21.

After Shiwakoti’s reporting on the ministerial scandal, NPU said unidentified persons had put the journalist’s residence and his activities under surveillance. The journalist also said he received indirect threats from social media and, as a result, was “cautious” and “semi-underground”.

Shiwakoti previously received threats on September 30, 2019, after publishing a reportalleging a female member of the parliamentary staff was sexually harassed by the then house-speaker, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who later resigned from his post.

Journalists in Nepal express serious concern to the security situation of Shiwakoti.

NPU said: “Such a threat to an investigative journalist who is committed to make the authorities accountable is really pathetic. We demand the government of Nepal and concerned stakeholders to ensure constitutionally-enshrined press freedoms and urge it to create a more conducive environment for the practice of independent journalism.”

The IFJ said: “We urge threats to Shiwakoti to be taken with the seriousness they deserve and for a response from Nepal’s government to underline its commitment to press freedom and to show the necessary support for protecting journalists in Nepal.”

IFJ

Police arrested 12 senior human rights activists and members of civil society from outside Shital Niwas while they were staging protest against election of murder-accused Agni Prasad Sapkota for the post of speaker of the House of Representatives.

The activists were arrested before Sapkota took the oath of office and secrecy from President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

The arrested are: Mahamuniswar Acharya, Purnimaya Lama, Janak Raut, Alina Gautama, Nirajan Thapaliya, Bipin Budhathoki, Sankar Budathoki, Bal Krishna Ghimire, Jesselina Rana, Prasanta Tripathi, Rajan Kuikel and Charan Prasai. All the arrestees were released in the evening.

Activists had been staging protest against the Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s decision to nominate murder-accused Sapkota for the post of speaker, for the last six days. Sapkota was elected speaker of the HoR unopposed yesterday.

Activists during today’s protest programme displayed placards that read, ‘End Impunity’, ‘Respect Rule of Law’ and ‘Respect Human Rights’.

Among the activists arrested today was Purnimaya Lama, who had accused speaker Sapkota and six others of murdering her husband Arjun Lama in August 2005, during the conflict era in Kavre district. Sapkota’s case is sub judice at the Supreme Court.

Human rights activist Charan Prasai said their protest and legal fight to establish truth would not stop. “We will continue our fight for justice seeking support from international communities,” Prasai said.

Himalayan Times

Editor of Rekhdekh Weekly and Treasurer of Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ) Prabir Dadel, 30, a resident of Musikot Municipality-13 has accused Ward Chairperson Dipak KC, 37, of threatening him on October 25.

Dadel accused KC of attempting to manhandle him in connection with a news report published about corruption in Rekhdekh Weekly. KC threatened the journalist after his name was also mentioned in the report about the corruption. Dadel has filed an oral complaint against KC at District Police Office and District Administration Office.

Nepal Monitor

Journalists were protesting against the sacking of three journalists from Radio Nepal in Doti on Monday. Radio Nepal is the government-owned radio. The three journalists were sacked without any prior notice or administrative work.

NPU and FNJ were demanding the reinstatement of the journalists’ jobs during the protests. At 2pm nine union leaders, including Ajaya Babu Shiwakoti, NPU general secretary, Ram Prasad Dahal, FNJ secretary, Janmadev Jaisi, Yam Birahi, Min Bam, FNJ central committee, Dilip Paudel, NPU central committee, Chakra Kuwar, NPU Doti Branch Vice President, Yogendra Balayar, FNJ Doti Branch President and Prakash Bam, NPU Doti Branch President were arrested. They were detained for three hours, and released at 5pm.

NPU general secretary Ajaya Babu Shiwakoti said: “NPU condems the removal of three journalists from Doti from their job and demands their immediate restoration into their job. We also demand that government create an environment that is conducive to the freedom of expression, a guaranteed provision in the constitution.

Government is dealing harshly with the working journalists so that they do not feel safe to report against the government independently. Latest detentions of journalists show the intention of the government toward journalists and journalism in Nepal.”

The IFJ said: “The arrest of nine union leaders and journalists for simply protesting the sacking of their colleagues is a deplorable act by Nepali authorities and threatens press freedom and right to association in the country. Journalists in Nepal are working in a volatile environment where they do not feel safe to report. This kind of environment only weakens press freedom and ultimately Nepal’s democracy.”

Update on September 23, 2019:

Federation of Nepali journalist (FNJ), Central Committee has picketed all the broadcasting stations of Radio Nepal in all seven provinces, demanding the reinstatement of the working journalist removed from Radio Nepal Deepayal broadcasting centre. At Kathmandu, Bipul Pokhrel, Vice president of FNJ led the protest. The FNJ has warned the government that it will continue agitating broadcast stations until journalists are reinstated. The government is taking away the job of journalists on the basis of political faith.

Addressing the protest, Vice President Pokhrel warned the government not to play down FNJ. He said "journalists were fired from the job, and that this act confirmed that the administration and executive director of Radio Nepal were irresponsible.” He said that the expelled journalists should be immediately reinstated, adding that the FNJ would be forced to embark on a more powerful movement.

FNJ General Secretary Ramesh Bista urged the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota, who himself was a journalist in the past, to remember that 'we had struggled together'. He warned that the FNJ would go against it if the government moved in a non-democratic manner.

The FNJ has been protesting for reinstatement of Sunita Rawal, Prakash Bam and Chakra Kunwar, who were fired by Radio Broadcasting Development Committee last August. Representatives of different media organizations and a significant number of journalists participated in the program. Central members of FNJ led the protests outside Kathmandu.

IFJ

Police on Monday arrested more than a dozen Women's Rights Activists who picketed the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Nepal. The women's rights activists picketed the Embassy saying that hundreds of Nepali women were being sold as wives in China.

Women's Rights Activist Sita Jyoti said they picketed the Embassy to draw the attention of the Chinese foreign minister who is currently on a visit to Nepal towards this problem.

Nepal Monitor

Human Rights Watch - The Nepal authorities should immediately withdraw sedition charges and unconditionally release rights campaigner Chandra Kant Raut, who was arrested for his expression of peaceful political opinions. Nepal should amend its practices to comply with international and domestic standards to protect freedom of expression. Raut was arrested on September 14, 2014, for allegedly advocating that the southern plains of Nepal, known as the Terai, be allowed to secede from the rest of the country as part of a long-standing debate on state restructuring. On October 8 he was charged with sedition, presumably under the Crime against State and Punishment Act 1989, which forbids any "attempts to cause any disorder with an intention to jeopardise sovereignty, integrity or national unity of Nepal." It carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Police also said that Raut has written articles and books advocating secession by Madhesis, the Terai community. There is no evidence that Raut advocated the use of violence, or that his actions led to violence. "Many Nepalis have recently struggled to break out of feudal structures and ensure democratic rights," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of a good democracy. But the government is going after an activist expressing concerns about marginalized communities from the Terai." Nepali politicians have long been drawn largely from the upper-caste hill tribes. Following the ceasefire agreement of 2006 after a 10-year civil war, the country embarked on a constitution-writing process which promised inclusion for traditionally marginalized communities, including from the Terai. Central to the promise of inclusion was the pledge to re-draw the state to create provinces or regions without giving dominance to the upper-caste hill tribes. However, the constitution remains in limbo as political parties have failed to come to a consensus. The debate has been filled with anxiety that the Terai, which runs east to west along Nepal's porous border with India and is a critical transit for trade in the land-locked country, will seek greater autonomy. Raut, formerly a US resident, returned to Nepal in 2011, and leads a group that seeks to establish an independent Madhesh in the area. "Raut's call for an independent Terai has to be understood in the historical and political context in which the discussion on state restructuring is occurring," said Adams. "His arrest threatens the chances of a robust debate on federalism, and undermines the promise of inclusion. Raut's arrest shows that minority voices can and will be easily sidelined." Nepal is a state party signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to free expression. Any limits placed on free expression must be set out clearly in domestic law, be nondiscriminatory in impact and must be strictly necessary for national security or public order. The authorities have not produced any evidence that Raut's peaceful call for an independent Terai was a threat to national security or public order that could justify his arrest. "Instead of releasing Raut for lack of a genuine threat, the authorities decided to justify their arrest by slapping sedition laws against him, nearly a month later," said Adams. "Such laws are typically used by repressive regimes to control critical speech, and it appears that Nepal has decided to go down this unseemly route."

Human Rights Watch

13/06/2013 Joint Urgent Appeal by the the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. We would like to draw the attention of your Excellency's Government to information we have received regarding the violent dispersal by law enforcement authorities of peaceful demonstrations organized by Kamlari activists, with a view to ensuring accountability for the killing of a 12-year old Kamlari girl in Dang in March 2013, and protesting more generally against the Kamaiya traditional system of bonded labour in place in several parts of Nepal. According to the information received: From 31 May to 2 June 2013, around 60 freed Kamlaris were reportedly holding a peaceful sit-in protest in front of the southern gate of the Singh Durbar, the Chief Administrative Center in Kathmandu, when they were violently dispersed by the police. According to reports, police officers beat the protestors with batons, punched and kicked them, causing serious injuries to their heads, arms, and shoulders. 10 protestors reportedly fell unconscious, and 8 sustained minor injuries who were treated in different hospitals. It is further reported that 8 female protestors were sexually assaulted by police forces who beat them on their breasts and genitals. 42 protestors were arrested in the course of the police operation, and released after five hours . It is also reported that some police officers stole money and jewelries from the protestors. On 3 June 2013, police forces brutally dispersed a peaceful protest by Kamlari activists in Dang. Four activists lost consciousness, and others were severely injured. On 4 June 2013, three and six Kamlari protestors were reportedly injured by the police in Kailai and Kanchanpur respectively when the police dispersed peaceful demonstrations in which they were taking part. 50 protestors were arrested in Kanchanpur, and subsequently released in the evening. Grave concerns are expressed that the excessive use of force against, and the arrest and detention of, peaceful Kamlari protestors may be linked to their legitimate human rights activities, in the exercise of their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of opinion and expression. Further concerns are expressed for the physical and psychological integrity of Kamlari activists, in particular women defenders, who continue protesting throughout the country.

UN OHCHR

Efforts by the BDS to gain approval for the renewal of its registration from the Kathmandu District Administrative Office, in particular the Chief District Officer, have been met with delays and continuous refusal over a protracted period It is reported that the Chief District Officer has so far raised two grounds on which to base his refusal to renew the organisation?s registration, namely:-a claim that the organisation?s Director, Mr. Sunil Babu Pant, had received a double salary, both as Director of the BDS and as a member of the Nepal Constituent Assembly. Reportedly, however, Mr. Pant has already returned the salary he received as a member of the Constituent Assembly; -a claim that a property belonging to the organisation had been registered in Mr. Pant?s name. Sources inform, however, that this was motivated by frequent difficulties experienced when registering properties in the name of organisations and that Mr. Pant had already signed an agreement with the BDS waiving any claims on the property. It is further reported that he is currently in the process of transferring ownership of the property in the organisation?s name. Although all documents needed to renew registration, including financial reports and progress reports, have been reportedly duly submitted by the BDS, no progress has been made on renewal of the registration. This has reportedly prompted the BDS to file a case in an appellate court. It is reported that as a consequence of the delays in renewing the registration, the organisation has been forced to start closing down all its operations, including the provision of essential care, support and treatment to individuals suffering from HIV.

UN OHCHR

The weekly magazine Lal Rakshak allegedly published an article containing various allegations against Ms. Sharma, Mr. Subodh Pyakhurel and Mr. Dixit, naming them as hostile to the Maoist political agenda and the peace process, as well as accusing them of crimes including corruption, labour exploitation and sexual violence. The article reportedly also mentioned Messrs. Sushil Pyakhurel, Charan Prasai and Kapil Shrestha. It is alleged that the Lal Rakshak article also contained a paragraph outlining the result of a survey the magazine had undertaken on what ought to be done about the persons named in the article. Reportedly, this included quotes by representatives stating that legal action against Ms. Sharma, Mr. Subodh Pyakhurel and Mr. Dixit would be fruitless due to their access to foreign funds, and that "people?s action" should be taken against them. "People?s action" in this context is understood to refer to punishment through violent attacks. It was allegedly used with this meaning during the violent conflict in Nepal during the 1990s and 2000s. Similar articles were allegedly printed in a number of local newspapers, including the 21 January 2013 edition of Gandaki Awaj (published in Pokhara), the 22 January 2013 edition of Taja Khabar (published in Rupandehi), and the online news portal Onlinekhabar. It is also alleged that calls for "people?s action" were repeatedly made on FMradio stations across Nepal against the above-mentioned members of AWC. Sources further inform that in an interview with Krishnasenonline, a Maoist-affiliated news portal, a spokesperson for the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN (Maoist) mentioned NGOs "who prefer dollars to the nation" and who had "called imperialist Britain to have Colonel Kumar Lama arrested" in exchange for dollars. The spokesperson allegedly made explicit mention of Ms. Sharma and the Advocacy Forum as having sent information to the British and so gotten Colonel Kumar Lama arrested. Reports have also been received of alleged harassment of Ms. Sharma and Advocacy Forum-Nepal. It is alleged that on 14 February 2013, Ms. Sharma received a warning from a government official that she should be careful, implying that the army might hinder Advocacy Forum?s work. In addition to this, Advocacy Forum reportedly received a letter from the District Administration Office soon after the arrest of Colonel Lama stating that an investigation would be undertaken against the organisation. Reportedly, a physical attack against Mr. Yadav Prasad Bastola took place on 28 February 2013, around 19:30, as he was walking back from Birendranagar to Vidhyapur Village Development Committee (VDC) -04, in Surkhet district, where he resides. Sources inform that as Mr. Bastola was walking through the jungle along this route, he noticed four unidentified persons following him, with covered faces.Two of the persons then reportedly blocked his way and proceeded to ask him whether he had written an article for the local newspaper ___Pahichen Daily?,consequently accusing him of "trying to send the Maoists to jail". It is alleged that the four persons were then joined by two other unidentified persons. They allegedly grabbed Mr. Bastola?s hand and neck and proceeded to beat his back with iron rods multiple times. Mr. Bastola reportedly fell to the ground while the beating with the iron rods continued and the assailants started to kick him with their boots. It is reported the assailants fled when two motorcycles approached the scene, allowing Mr. Bastola to escape. Sources inform that Mr. Bastola was helped by villagers and police in a nearby village and was consequently taken in a police van to the local hospital and later to Deuti Nursing Home for treatment. He was reportedly discharged the next day. It is reported that Mr. Bastola filed a First Information Report of the event on 1 March 2013 at the District Police Office in Surkhet. It is reported the police is still conducting an investigation.

UN OHCHR

At least 32 Nepalese human rights activists, including nine women, were arrested on Wednesday in Kathmandu for staging anti-government protests. The protest was organised by the Human Rights and Peace Society, Nepal demanding the resignation of Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari for his alleged involvement in wide-body aircraft purchase corruption and fulfilment of demands of agitating senior surgeon Dr Govinda KC. According to a Parliamentary committee report, Rs. 4.5 billion loss was incurred while purchasing two airbuses for state-owned Nepal Airlines and Tourism Minister Adhikari had allegedly made a false statement on the issue in his explanation to the Parliamentary committee. Dr KC has been staging fast unto death for the past 20 days demanding sweeping reforms in the medical sector but the government last week passed a medical bill through a majority vote in the Parliament without addressing his demands. Those arrested include senior human rights activist Krishna Pahadi, president of the society Uttam Pudasaini, and central member Gita Timilsina. They were carrying placards with the slogans 'Address demands of agitating doctor KC', 'Take action against those involved in aircraft purchase deal', 'Sack Tourism Minister Adhikari.'

DevDiscourse

Seventeen persons were arrested by Nepal Police while staging protest in support of senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC and his demand to make improvements in the medical system. Resident doctors, MBBS students and interns of TUTH were arrested by police while they were moving towards Sital Niwas. They were released in the evening after Nepal Medical Association and doctors appealed to the government to release them. President of National Resident Doctors' Association Dr Sumit Pandey said, "Among those arrested, seven are residents doctors, four interns and six MBBS students," he said, adding, "Some of the doctors were to attend an emergency surgery today." In the same way, despite Nepal Medical Association's decision to halt all services, except emergency, the hospital provided services to patients. TUTH Director Dr Prem Krishna Khadga said the hospital provided regular health services to the patients. "Today only 1,405 patients received health services from the hospital. Yesterday, 1,397 patients had received services," he added. Meanwhile, issuing a press statement, the Ministry of Health and Population has warned that it would take action against doctors involved in the protest. On January 27, Nepal Medical Association had announced that it would stage relay hunger strike throughout the country demanding that the government meet Dr KC's demands related to medical education.

Business Standard

Police intervened in a peaceful protest seeking justice for Nirmala Panta and arrested 12 activists for pasting posters on utility poles in Maitighar today. The demonstrators were pasting posters featuring Nirmala, a 13-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Kanchanpur district on July 26, demanding that the government bring to book the culprit(s). While the peaceful protest was under way, armed cops arrived and arrested activists, including eight women, at around 3:00pm. Police also confiscated and tore up the posters. The arrested protesters were forced into a police van and taken to Metropolitan Police Circle, Singha Durbar, before their release in the evening, said Pritam Subedi, one of the protesters. According to him, women cops roughed up two activists. "If the government can place posters with huge photos of the prime minister in Kathmandu, why are we not allowed to display Nirmala's images in a democracy where no one is above the law and everyone has the right to peaceful protest?" asked Subedi. Deputy Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati at Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, told THT that activists were released after "counselling'. He claimed that they pledged to shun protest programmes seeking justice for Nirmala. "We also briefed the protesters about police bid to lead the criminal investigation to a pragmatic end and arrest the culprit(s)," he said without elaborating on the progress the security agency had made in over four months since the heinous crime. DSP Bogati claimed that the activists posed a threat to security arrangements made for the Asia Pacific Summit being held in Kathmandu. Over 6,000 cops, both in uniform and civvies, have been deployed for "foolproof' security of foreign delegates. The police oppression sparked widespread criticism of the government on social networking sites. Bishodip took to Twitter to castigate the government and wrote, "Has the Constitution of Nepal allowed only the government to display its posters?" Syaandai, another twitteratti, posted, "Government, has the freedom of expression really ceased to exist? Can't we raise our voice for justice?" Lobangi Arajaktabadi tweeted, "Under which law the government displayed posters of the prime minister and obstructed citizens from putting up posters of Nirmala? Why such dadagiri?"

The Himalayan Times

The Nepal authorities must immediately and unconditionally release members and supporters of Amnesty International Nepal who were detained after protesting outside the Indian embassy this morning, Amnesty International said today. At least 30 people - including members of the board of Amnesty International Nepal, staff, and supporters - were detained while protesting against the Indian government's crackdown on civil society, including raids on the offices of Amnesty International India and attempts to shut down its campaigning in the country. "We demand that our colleagues are released immediately and unconditionally. The Nepal authorities have displayed the very same repressive tactics Amnesty International supporters were protesting against. They were there to express their solidarity with our colleagues in India and to call on the Indian government to end its crackdown on human rights. Violating their right to freedom of peaceful assembly, the Nepal authorities are showing that human rights are also at risk in Nepal," said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia Director at Amnesty International. Background The Amnesty International movement globally is calling on the Indian government to end its crackdown on human rights. On 25 October, Amnesty International India became the latest target of the government's assault on civil society when the organization's offices in Bengaluru were raided by the Enforcement Directorate, an agency that looks into financial crimes. Amnesty International India's bank accounts were frozen. Subsequently, the Ministry of Home Affairs also raided the Amnesty International India offices. Coming on the heels of similar actions against Greenpeace India earlier in October, heavy-handed methods are being used to further shrink civic space and stop the vital human rights and climate change campaigning work of the two organizations.

Amnesty International | Online Khabar

Ram Manohar Yadav, a Free Madhes activist arrested in Gulariya, Bardiya 12 days ago for showing black flags to Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Upendra Yadav, died in police custody on Saturday morning. The incident came to light following a controversy surrounding his death. Yadav, a supporter of the movement led by CK Raut who was brought to Kathmandu from Nepalgunj for treatment, was admitted to the emergency ward of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at 2:15am, moments before he was pronounced dead. Deepak Paasi, Yadav's neighbour who accompanied Yadav in the ambulance along with two policemen and a medical officer, said he died on the way to Kathmandu. "When I touched him on the way, his body had turned cold already," said Paasi, a resident of Janaki Rural Municipality in Banke district. "I had asked the medical officer to see if Yadav was alive but the officer said he did not have[necessary] equipment. When we reached the hospital, they took him to the emergency ward. He was declared dead soon afterwards," Paasi told the Post. Yadav was detained on August 23, along with three other CK Raut supporters-Harpal Singh, Irfan Sheikh and Ranjit Ram Verma. After detaining them, the Bardiya District Police filed treason charges against all four in the Bardiya District Court. On the morning of August 30, Yadav had collapsed inside the cell. Police then admitted him to the Bardiya District Hospital in Gulariya, less than 200 metres away from the police station. According to Dr Supriya Paudyal, who was involved in his treatment, Yadav was referred to Bheri Zonal Hospital in Nepalgunj after he showed signs of paralysis. "He couldn't speak clearly when he was brought here. Considering that he could be paralysed any time and we lacked equipment, we referred the case to Nepalgunj hospital," said Dr Paudyal. Yadav was admitted to Nepalgunj Nursing Home as the zonal hospital had no facilities for intensive care. According to Dr Raman Kidavi, assistant director at the nursing home, Yadav was unconscious and had high fever when he was brought there. "We suggested taking him to Kathmandu for further treatment because his body temperature was 108F and he was lying unconscious," Dr Kidavi told the Post. Bardiya Police chief SP Surendra Mainali said Yadav was sent to Kathmandu shortly afterwards on an ambulance with supplementary oxygen. According to SP Mainali, Yadav died in Maharajgunj on Saturday morning. Alliance for Independent Madhes Spokesperson Abdul Khan claimed that Yadav died en route to the Capital, blaming police negligence for the death. "He had high blood pressure, which got worse in custody due to mental harassment. Before collapsing at the police station, he had asked for medicine for headache but no one gave it to him. He was taken to hospital more than an hour after he had collapsed," Khan told the Post, adding that the police had not allowed anyone to meet them. SP Mainali dismissed allegations that visitors were barred from meeting the detainees. Yadav's death has stirred up a controversy. Human rights activists and civil society members have slammed the government over the death in detention, calling it an act of extra-judicial killing. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched an investigation into the death and the condition of other detainees. A group of activists also submitted a memorandum to NHRC Chairperson Anup Raj Sharma seeking independent investigation into the matter, punishment for the guilty and compensation for the victim's family. The NHRC asked the government to guarantee the right to life by ensuring immediate medical examination of detainees and arranging for effective medical treatment if they fall sick in custody.

Kathmandu Post

KATHMANDU, Sept 12: Police have arrested a journalist on charge of character assassination after he posted a news report on an online platform. Editor of the vernacular Khojtalas Weekly and Khojtalasa.com Raju Basnet was arrested Monday morning from his residence in Lalitpur on the charge of publishing a news report on Khojtalas.com, the online portal of Khojtalas Weekly. The report had already been published in Dristi Weekly. The report exposed an attempt to transfer the ownership of land owned by Harisiddhi Brick Industries in Lalitpur to some private individuals, allegedly with the involvement of Maoist lawmaker Pampha Bhusal and some other leaders of the party. Police arrested Basnet following an order from Kathmandu District Court in response to a writ petition filed by one Sushil Khanal, alleging that Basnet had subjected him to character assassination through the report. The court has given permission to keep Basnet in judicial custody for four days. Metropolitan Police Range Office, Lalitpur said Basnet will be kept in judicial custody for the four days for further investigations. The media fraternity has taken strong exception to the arrest, calling it a move to harass journalists by invoking a cyber crime law provisioned under the Electronic Transaction Act. Media rights activists have expressed concern that such misuse of legal provisions could seriously undermine press freedom.

My Republica

One teenage boy has been killed and dozens were injured in west Nepal when police opened fire on protesters demanding action over the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl, according to officials. Angry crowds took to the streets in the city of Mahendranagar on Friday, accusing police of protecting the person responsible for the brutal crime. Police officer Krishna Raj Ojha told AFP news agency on Saturday that 17-year-old Sani Khuna was killed after officers fired shots "to contain the violent protest". According to the Kathmandu Post, Khuna died while being taken to hospital for treatment. The publication said that several other protesters, as well as police personnel, were injured in the clashes. Police said an indefinite curfew has been imposed in the area, near the border with India's Uttarakhand state. Schoolgirl Nirmala Panta went missing in late July and her body was found the following day in a sugar-cane field. Anger boiled over after police arrested a man who reportedly has severe learning difficulties, and whom protesters say is a scapegoat allowing officers to shield the real culprit. The victim's family have also accused police of failing to take action over her death. "The state has not taken the cases of rape and violence against women seriously," women's rights activist Hima Bista told AFP. "Protection is being provided to the rape-accused time and again," she added. Further rallies are planned for Saturday across Nepal. In the capital, Kathmandu, around 1,500 people staged a silent protest under a heavy police presence, AFP reported. The hashtags #RageAgainstRape and #JusticeForNirmala were also trending on Twitter. "The so-called democratic government couldn't give justice to the rape and murder victim instead they killed an innocent boy," Twitter user Sunel GC posted. There were 1,480 reported rapes in Nepal last year, according to recently released police data, almost double the number reported in 2016. Activists say the rise is due to more women reporting violence to the police, but also say many more still go unreported in deeply patriarchal Nepal.

Al Jazeera

Yet again, journalists exposing irregularities relating to contractor and government officials have been attacked. Senior journalists Chhabilal Tiwari and Om Prakash Ghayal were attacked by a contractor on August 9 in Parbat, a district in Province 4 of Nepal. Journalist Ghayal is the station manager at Radio Saligram and Journalist Tiwari is associated with the Nagarik daily. According to the Freedom Forum's representative for Province 4 Rajan Upadhaya, journalists Tiwari and Ghayal were attacked by the local contractor Puskal Sharma and his team at Chhamarke of Kushma-4 in the evening. Both the journalists were assaulted while returning back from the caf_. The drunken contractor not only thrashed them but also abused verbally. He also tore Ghayal's clothes injuring him. Earlier, both journalists had exposed irregularities relating to the contractors and government officials. Representative Upadhaya further reported that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Bhuwaneswar Tiwari of Kushma also condemned the attack and said that he was informed through telephone about the incident in the evening and he immediately ordered the Inspector for further investigation. Both the journalists also filed an FIR in the District Administration Office, Parbat. With the federalism in place, the local levels have been empowered with huge budget and authorities to propel the development activities. But the irregularities on the development activities are fueled by undue contract involving the government officials. These are obviously the stories for journalists to investigate and bring the facts to light. But, the growing hostility to the media for reporting corruption and irregularities is taking toll on press freedom. Freedom Forum therefore vehemently condemns the attack on the journalists and demands urgent action from the authorities to book the attackers. It is the sheer violation of press freedom and freedom of information. Such activities not only discourage free reporting but also contribute to self-censorship, which is against the media freedom and professionalism.

Nepal Press Freedom

Yet again due to security officials intimidation, five journalists were injured in an attack while covering news of a demonstration launched by Nepal Congress youth wing Tarun Dal in the capital on July 21. Kathmandu lies in Province 3. As per FF's representative for province 3 Ashok Dahal, , five journalist namely Ajay Babu Siwakoti, Chief Editor of hamrakura.com and General Secretary of Nepal Press Union, Maheshwar Gautam affiliated to Rajdhani Daily, Nibesh Kumar affiliated to New 24, Skanda Gautam and Praveen Maharjan affiliated to The Himalayan Times were severely injured after security officials attacked them in the protest against the government. Police fired 23 rounds of teargas shells at a rally organized by Tarun Dal, youth wing of main opposition Nepali Congress and baton charged journalists. All injured journalists are under treatment in Civil Hospital, Baneshwor. Freedom Forum condemns the intimidation against the journalist and urges the government to stop such actions that obstructs journalist's right to free reporting. Attacking journos physically and inflicting injuries is the sheer violation of press freedom. The police intervention against journalists is a serious threat to free press and freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution. FF urges the concerned authority to take action against the attackers and respect press freedom.

Nepal Press Freedom

Police today arrested 25 human right activists who were preparing to stage a sit-in at Singha Durbar southern gate this afternoon. Those arrested include founder chair of Human Rights and Peace Society Nepal Krishna Pahadi and chair Gangadhar Adhikari. A group of around 50 activists who were marching towards the gate were arrested by police within less than five minutes of their arrival. While half of them were arrested, other half were scattered from the site. The activists said they were preparing to stage a peaceful protest against the government's decision to prohibit public from staging protests at Maitighar Mandala and other places in Kathmandu. They have also criticised the government for turning a deaf ear to the demands of Ganga Maya Adhikari and Dr Govinda KC. Adhikari has been staging hunger strike for the past 43 days demanding punishment for those involved in the extra-judicial killing of her son during the Maoist insurgency. Likewise, Dr KC is on hunger strike for the past 10 days demanding that the government incorporate recommendations of the Kedar Bhakta Mathema led commission in the medical education bill. Talking to The Himalayan Times Pahadi said, "This government has given a clear indication that it is headed towards imposing an authoritarian rule by seizing the freedom of expression." Pahadi further said that the government was becoming an "unbridled horse' filled with the pride of its two-thirds majority in the Parliament. He also said that they will stage protests on July 14 and July 16. HURPES is a voluntary organisation which was established in 2053 with the aim of promoting human rights.

The Himalayan Times

Prominent activist Dr. Govinda K.C. was arrested for contempt of court on the evening of 8 January 2018. Prior to his arrest, he issued a press statement demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli, for reinstating Dr. Sashi Sharma as the Dean of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Dr. K.C. also accused Chief Justice Parajuli of being "corrupt' and a "mafia don', and undermining the judiciary. After his press statement, Dr. K.C. began his 14th hunger strike. Hundreds of people from various walks of life came out onto the street against Dr. K.C.'s detention. They chanted slogans calling for his immediate release. There was huge public pressure, and the Supreme Court ordered his release on a general date in a contempt of court case on January 10, while calling for an investigation into the authenticity of citizenship document and education certificates of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli. Dr. K.C. has been ordered to appear before the court for the next hearing scheduled for February 20. This is the first time that the judiciary has taken a liberal approach towards the accused even after admitting in court to criticizing the Chief Justice and his decision. Despite the fact that the allegations against Dr. K.C. were proved before the bench, he was released on a date for reappearing before the court. The court sought neither bail nor any personal guarantee for his release. The Supreme Court also accepted his demand for a probe into the Chief Justice's citizenship, and his academic certificates. Dr. Govinda K.C. vowed to continue his fast-unto-death until the remaining demands in the purification campaign of medical education and judiciary are met. Dr. K.C. has risked his life repeatedly to push for much-needed reforms in medical education. The anti-corruption crusader was arrested by the Nepal Police with what seems like a direct order from the court, without information passed to the government. This suggests that the judiciary has overstepped its jurisdiction. It therefore seems that not only are Nepal's politicians using the police for their own whims, but the country's judiciary is also engaging in power plays. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urges the government of Nepal and the Supreme Court to drop charges against Dr. Govinda K.C. for making healthy criticisms against the judiciary and seeking a probe against a tainted verdict. The allegations of forgery of citizenship certificate and education certificates must be investigated. The Chief Justice must step down in line with the popular demand of morality.

Scoop

On 9 April 2013, 12 human rights campaigners were arrested in the Baluwatar area. The names of the 12 campaigners are: - Sudha Maharjan - Sushila Maharjan - Ishan Adhikari - Jagannath Lamichhane - Bidushi Dhungel - Prajwal Shrestha - Mukesh Shrestha - Nirprakash Giri - Kunjan Kafle - Mahis Maharjan - Bikram Shreshtha and - Ujwal Thapa Police arrested the 12 activists who have been taking part in the "Occupy Baluwatar Campaign" for over 100 days, demanding the end of violence against women and impunity and calling for justice and the rule of law. 9 April was the 103rd day of the peaceful protest. The campaign was launched by rights defenders in response to the rising number of incidents of violence against women (VAW). It is aimed at exerting pressure on the authorities to provide justice to the victims of VAW, and punish the perpetrators rigorously. Even though those detained were released a few hours later this act was a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

IFEX

On 25 March 2013, Mr. Kedar Dahal, actively working in the sector of child rights and currently a Secretary of the Child NGO Federation Nepal as well as a Freedom Forum executive member, was attacked by an unknown gang with khukuri (homemade weapons) near his home at Dakshindholka of Jorpati, Kathmandu. Following the attack, the police arrested six persons, including an individual named Kishor Bhattarai, and the authorities have been investigating the murder attempt. The arrested persons reportedly belong to the Youth Force, a sister wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), and members of the Force are exerting political pressure to ensure that the criminal charges against their cadres are lifted. By the end of March, Dahal was still facing threats to his security, and his family members were also receiving threats from criminal gangs.

IFEX

On 11 March 2013, Satya Narayan Sharma - the editor of Janahit Weekly,was beaten up while collecting news by the cadres of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum. They allege that Mr Sharma was spreading false news. Whilst the police intervened to stop the beating no action has been taken against the culprits.

INSEC Nepal

On 4 March 2013, Hari Dev Kharel - a journalist received death threats from ten unidentified men. Mr Kharel has approached the relevant Nepalese authorities who have said they will investigate the matter.

INSEC Nepal

On 28 August 2012, a campaign of harassment of members of leading women"s rights organization WOREC Nepal and LGBTI rights organization Mitini Nepal began following their support to a victim of domestic violence who had recently 'come out' as a lesbian. Due to the assistance they provided to the lady and her partner, the staff of Mitini Nepal and their president Laxmi Ghalan,came under threat. Ms. Ghalan received threatening calls, threatening that if she raises the case of the lady, her office would be vandalized and she would be abducted. The police also surrounded the office of Mitini Nepal in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. After the police withdrew from Mitini Nepal's office, several plain-clothes individuals stayed to watch the office. Due to the threats, Mitini Nepal's staff looked for shelter in the premises of WOREC. The police are also reported to have searched two rooms respectively rented by Mitini Nepal's president and one staff on 28 and 29 August. On the evening of 30th August 2012 at around 7.30 pm, about 40 persons claiming to be relatives of the lady forced their way into WOREC's office, in Balkumari, Lalitpur, searching for her and her partner, whom they were accusing of having trafficked. They were accompanied by 7 police personnel but the police did not enter the office's premises. On the same day, four police officers visited the office of Mitini Nepal and accused their staff of hiding the woman. They visited the office several times on that day, accompanied by the lady's relatives.

UN OHCHR

On 9 February 2013, Ms. Apsara Upreti, a journalist and social worker associated with the Integrated Community Development Campaign (ICDC), Dhading district, was threatened by a UCPN-M district member,Ram Krishna Acharya, for trying to get legal support to a rape victim. This is not the first time she has received threats from this group. As early as 2010 Ms Upreti received a death threat from Binod Luitel, a District Committee Member of Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist (UCPNM) and Ram Nepali, secretary of Maoist affiliated Dalit Mukti Morcha for supporting Ms. Shanti Rupakheti WHRD of Jivanpur VDC-8 in Dhading to seek justice.

INSEC Nepal

On 9 May 2012, Dhan Bahadur Thanet Tharu was shot during a clash with police at Danda of Nawalparasi. He passed away on 5 June 2012. Tharu was injured when police fired gunshots during a demonstration organised by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities ( NEFIN) and United Tharu Struggle Committee (UTSS). The violent scuffle ensued as police tried to prevent the mob from entering the Kawasoti Police Post on 9 May 2012. Police said they were compelled to fire 12 rounds of bullets and two teargas canisters to take the situation under control.

Ekantipur

On 7 July 2011, Mr. Jitman Basnet, journalist, human rights lawyer and founder of "Lawyers' Forum for Human Rights (LAFHUR), was followed by two men on a motor bike in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. They reportedly tried to overtake him a number of times; however the road was too narrow for two vehicles to pass next to each other. According to information received, when Mr. Basnet was forced to slow down due to a traffic jam, one of the perpetrators dismounted from his motorbike and shouted to the other to grab Mr. Basnet. At this point, Mr. Basnet allegedly managed to force his way out of the traffic and to lose the individuals. It is reported that later that day, Mr. Basnet filed a First Information Report with the police regarding the incident. On 21 June 2011, Mr. Basnet received a death threat call to his mobile phone from a number which has allegedly been traced to a public telephone in Bhaktapur. According to the information received, Mr. Basnet received a number of calls since that date from unknown numbers which he did not answer. On 18 June 2011, Mr. Basnet received a threatening phone call to his mobile phone number. The caller allegedly asked him where he was and informed him that the identity of the caller would soon be revealed to him, at which point Mr. Basnet hung up the phone. On 15 June 2011, Mr. Basnet attended a televised public event called "Forum for Justice and Truth." At the event, political parties and NGOs discussed Bills concerning reform of the powers of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Disappearances Commission. It is reported that during the forum, Mr. Basnet was outspoken regarding impunity and accused political leaders of negligence. He also asked embassies to refuse visas to alleged perpetrators as well as to provide shelter to threatened human rights defenders. Since January 2011, Mr. Basnet has been assisting family members of victims to file First Information Reports concerning cases of extra-judicial killings carried out during the conflict period. According to information received, it is estimated that there are more than 80 similar cases in the Solukhumbu district, that remain unreported due to the remote location of the district and a lack of civil society structure. In April 2011, Mr. Basnet reportedly attempted to file a report in which he alleged that the perpetrators of the cases of extra-judicial killings were high ranking police and army officials. However, he was unable to file a report due to the action taken by the deputy superintendent of police.

UN OHCHR

On 3 September 2011, according to the District Chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Ganesh Pokharel, journalist Paras Timsina was abducted from a local Birta bazaar by two unidentified persons on a motorcycle. The assailants blindfolded the journalist and took him to an undisclosed location where they held him for two hours. Before releasing Timsina, they warned him that he would be killed if he reported on the incident. The assailants reportedly said, "You are a journalist and report on the news. You have hindered our work. If you continue to write stories, you will be finished off within two hours of publishing the report."

IFEX

On 15 November 2010, Sushil Dhungana, publisher of Ghodaghodi Sandesh weekly, was abducted by five persons on motorcycles from Naya Bazar of Sadhepani while returning to Sukkhad from Sadhepani and taken to jungle. "You have become a big journalist. Now you will enjoy," Dhungel quoted the men as saying before thrashing him and slicing his fingers. He had published news on Sunday highlighting the increasing smuggling and corruption in the district. Sushil had published an article on 14 November 2010 entitled "Smuggling and Commission Seeking Up", highlighting the increasing smuggling and corruption in the district. Dhungana was abducted at 3:00 p.m. and was released at around 6:00 p.m. According to him, three of the assailants riding motorcycles were wearing masks so it was difficult to identify them. The abductors threatened to kill Dhungana if the incident was made public. He informed his colleagues about the incident only after reaching Dhangadhi, the captial of Kailali district in western Nepal, on 16 November. "We have filed a case at the District Police Office in Kailali, asking them to investigate the incident as soon as possible," local journalist Dirgharaj Upadhyay told the Press Freedom Monitoring Desk of Freedom Forum over the phone. "We urged security forces not to keep any stone unturned in connection with the incident."

International Federation of Journalists-IFJ

Two journalists were displaced from Pathari in Morang district after frequent life threats over the issue of news coverage. Arjun Jamneli Rai, correspondent of Aujar Daily, and Bibek Bhattarai, correspondent of Janabidroha Daily, were displaced after they received frequent life threat messages from mobile number 9842306151 on Sunday. The scribes were threatened over the news coverage of sand and pebble extraction from local Sunjora River for land plotting. A group of youth led by Sajan Dhimal after the direction of local UML leader Kishor Rai seized the Aujar Daily and disrupted the paper distribution on Sunday. Different organizations have condemned the act saying seizing newspaper and halting the distribution was against the press freedom. Journalists Rai and Bhattarai are the members of Revolutionary Journalist Association, Morang chapter. No one has been arrested in connection with the issue though the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Morang chapter, Press Chautari, Press Union and others lodged complaints demanding their arrest at the office of the Chief District Officer Suresh Adhikari, Superintendent of Police Dipak Thapa and CPN (UML).

My Republica

The attack on 12 journalists at Tribeni VDC, Udayapur, came under heavy attack from media bodies. Issuing a joint statement, Federation of Nepali Journalists, Revolutionary Journalists' Association, Nepal Press Union and Press Chautari Nepal deplored the local administration and police for not heeding a call for investigation into the incident. On Saturday, a group of people had attacked 12 journalists associated with various media during Tribeni Fair. The mediapersons had reached there to cover news on gambling business operating at the fair on the alleged protection of the District Administration Office (DAO) and police. Regardless of the presence of security personnel, the group attacked the journalists and looted their camcorders, tapes, a wallet and a gold chain. In the wake of the incident, journalists had appealed to the DAO and the police administration to take legal action against the guilty. The authorities, however, did not heed the investigation call made by the journalists. The media people have threatened to launch a stir if the authorities concerned didn't investigate the incident.

Ekantipur

On 3 October 2010, police on Sunday around 200 forest activists, including Chairman of Federation of Community Forest Users' Nepal Apsara Chapagain, while they were trying to picket the Department of Forest. The agitators had reached the department as part of a nationwide strike against the government's decision to amend Forest Act-1993 to increase the tax from 15 percent to 50 percent and to scrap the rights of community forests. "The Armed Police Force interfered in our peaceful sit-in and charged batons mercilessly," said Federation's executive officer Suvas Devkota. All the protestors have been kept at Metropolitan Police Sector, Singha Durbar and Kamalpokhari. Devkota said over one dozen Federation members were seriously injured when police baton charged the protestors. "They were even barred from treatment," he said. Federation treasurer Bhaati Pathak said that a proposal regarding amendment of the Act is awaiting the parliament's approval, which, if endorsed, will curtail the rights and privileges of community forests user groups. Government officials say the Act should be amended to control rampant deforestation in Tarai districts and encroachment of forest areas across the country.

The three journalists, Mohani Risal, Somnath Lamichhane and Javan Bhandari, who work for the news agency's English-language service, are under "investigation" in connection with the news item, the authorities confirmed on 14 May. The three RSS journalists were questioned about the dispatch they translated and circulated reporting that the Tibetan spiritual leader had left the New Delhi hospital where he was being treated and had returned to Dharamshala, the city in northern India that is the Tibetan exile community's capital. The investigation was ordered by information and communication minister Gokul Baskota, who said: "Dissemination of this report by the state-run agency, particularly during the president's state visit to China, is against Nepal's commitment to One-China policy." "These RSS journalists just did their job by reporting information of public interest" said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "It is not up to the Nepalese government to decide what can or cannot be published, and even less so to China's representatives in Kathmandu. We demand an immediate end to this investigation and we condemn this unacceptable interference, which violates the independence of Nepal's journalists." Speaking on condition of anonymity, an RSS journalist told the Kathmandu Post that a representative of the Chinese state news agency Xinhua visited the head of RSS, who then set up a committee to decide what action should be taken against the three journalists. The three journalists meanwhile insist that they circulated the report with the sole aim of informing, not with any political intent. The new criminal code that Nepal adopted last year contains major threats to press freedom. At the same time, officials have been employing an "anti-media rhetoric" which has been widely reproduced in the government's newspapers, radio stations and TV channels and which is also intimidating journalists. Nepal is ranked 106th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index.

RSF

Police on Sunday detained 11 activists of various ethnic communities during a protest outside Singhadarbar, the country’s central administrative complex.

The activists had staged a demonstration protesting the ongoing local government staff recruitment process, arguing the Public Service Commission did not follow provisions on reservations for various social groups in the process. They have been demanding that the commission cancel the recruitment process and call for applications again ensuring proportionate reservation quotas for Dalits, indigenous communities, Madhesis and Muslims.

As the demonstrators headed towards the main entrance of Singhadarbar from Bhadrakali, police detained Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities vice-president Govinda Chhantyal, leaders Kumar Lingden and Dalmardhan Kami among others.

The road outside Singhadarbar remains a restricted zone for any kind of protest.

The detainees have been kept at Nepal Police Club.