The IFJ have protested to the Government of Nepal in the following letter:
26 November 2003
Honorable Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa
Prime Minister of Nepal
Prime Minister’s Office
Singh Dubar
Kathmandu
Kingdom of Nepal
Fax: 9771226286, 9771227765
email: [email protected]
Honorable Ananat Raj Pandey
Secretary of the Home Ministry
Fax: 9771228166,
email: [email protected]
Mr. Nayan Bahadur Khatri
Chairman, Nepal Human Right Commission
Fax: 9771547973
Email: [email protected]
Dear Excellency,
<P align="justify"The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest journalists’ organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned over the disappearance of Dhana Bahadur Magar, Central Council member and secretary of the Free and Open Press’s Kathmandu section.
According to FNJ Kathmandu section President, Hari Lamsal, Magar was last seen on 18 November 203 at approximately 3:15pm, shopping. His whereabouts remains unknown.
The current fear is that Magar was taken into custody by Security force personnel. Magar was previously detained by for four months in 2002 for allegedly being involved with the Communist Party of Nepal. (CPN-Maoist).
The IFJ strongly condemns the use of intimidation and threats of violence by the Security Forces in an attempt to censor journalists and demands that Security Forces respect the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly the right to a free press.
The IFJ calls on the Government of Nepal to launch a full investigation into the disappearance of Magar, with all details of his disappearance disclosed to the public and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice
The IFJ strongly urges the Government of Nepal to disclose the details of all journalists who are currently in detention.
The IFJ asks the government of Nepal to express its commitment to press freedom and to ensure the safety of all journalists in Nepal.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Warren
President, IFJ
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Honorable Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa
Prime Minister of Nepal
Prime Minister’s Office
Singh Dubar
Kathmandu
Kingdom of Nepal
Fax: 9771226286, 9771227765
email: [email protected]
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