Nepal media protest over attack
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Many newspapers in Nepal have appeared with a blank space instead of an editorial to protest against attacks by Maoist activists, reports BBC.
Dozens of former rebels attacked staff and vandalised offices at Himal Media, one of the country's biggest newspaper publishing houses, over the weekend.
The protesters said the Nepali Times and other magazines carried articles critical of the communist party. Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda has denied any role in the attack.
He told Nepal media the attack was by "immoral agents" who had "infiltrated" the Maoists.
The UN and US have both criticised the violence, in which journalists were assaulted.
In a joint statement, Nepali media organisations condemned the attacks and said they would escalate their protest until the ruling Maoist party stopped the violation of press freedom.
"This is the first in a series of escalating protests that our media companies will launch if the current organised attacks on us by groups affiliated to the ruling party are not stopped immediately," the Media Society and Editors' Alliance in Nepal said in a statement.
Dozens of former rebels attacked staff and vandalised offices at Himal Media, one of the country's biggest newspaper publishing houses, over the weekend.
The protesters said the Nepali Times and other magazines carried articles critical of the communist party. Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda has denied any role in the attack.
He told Nepal media the attack was by "immoral agents" who had "infiltrated" the Maoists.
The UN and US have both criticised the violence, in which journalists were assaulted.
In a joint statement, Nepali media organisations condemned the attacks and said they would escalate their protest until the ruling Maoist party stopped the violation of press freedom.
"This is the first in a series of escalating protests that our media companies will launch if the current organised attacks on us by groups affiliated to the ruling party are not stopped immediately," the Media Society and Editors' Alliance in Nepal said in a statement.