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| Identifier: | 05KATHMANDU1255 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 05KATHMANDU1255 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Kathmandu |
| Created: | 2005-06-09 11:09:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PGOV PINS PHUM PREF NP |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 091109Z Jun 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001255 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015 TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PHUM, PREF, NP SUBJECT: 51 NEPALI JOURNALISTS ARRESTED AND RELEASED REF: KATHMANDU 1238 Classified By: Charge Elisabeth Millard. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) Summary ------- 1. (U) As part of a 17 day protest plan against the continuing ban on news broadcasts on FM radio stations, 51 Nepali journalists from the Federation of Nepal Journalists (FNJ) were arrested in Kathmandu for protesting in a restricted area on June 8. Authorities released all 51 from jail early on June 9. However, 47 of the 53 Maoist Victim Association protestors arrested June 5 remain in custody. End Summary. 51 Journalists Held Overnight ----------------------------- 2. (U) Police arrested 51 of the approximately 500 journalists gathered for a peaceful rally in Kathmandu on June 8 for protesting in a restricted area. Holding placards and banners reading "Restore Press Freedom" and "Lift News Ban on FM Stations," journalists had gathered in a restricted area and were prepared to be arrested as part of a 17 day protest plan to demand that government lift media censorship rules promulgated after the February 1 Royal takeover. Authorities released all 51 journalists the morning of June 9. 3. (U) Issuing separate press statements, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Human Rights and Peace Society, the Press Chautari Nepal and the Reporter's Club, all condemned the police action. News of the journalists' arrests appeared as the top story in many June 9 newspapers. 4. (U) The FNJ's 17 day protests to allow news broadcast from FM radio stations includes: reading the news over public address systems in some areas of the capital on June 10; having newspaper cartoonists lampoon the government on press freedom on June 12; and FM radio stations broadcasting laughter for two minutes at 8 am on June 19. The protest plan follows an order by the Supreme Court staying the government's move to close a radio production company, Communication Corner, which serves over a dozen community radio stations around the country. Maoist Victims Association Protestors Still in Custody --------------------------------------------- --------- 5. (U) The Home Ministry spokesman, Gopendra Bahadur Pandey, reported that 6 of the 53 Maoist Victims Association protestors arrested on June 5 (Reftel) had been released. The Maoist Victims Association submitted a memorandum to the United Nations, National Human Rights Commission and other organizations demanding the release of the remaining 47 people arrested during the June 5 protest. Pandey said that the Home Ministry was working to provide additional relief to internally displaced people. Comment ------- 6. (C) While both the Maoist Victims Association and the FNJ appear to be using arrests as a part of their political protest plan, it is troubling that the police have not yet released all of the Maoist victims. MILLARD
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