KATHMANDU, Oct 16 - International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged the government to take action to ensure that those responsible for attacking and abducting journalists are punished.
In a statement issued here Monday IFJ said, "We believe, in order to promote and protect journalists' rights, a strong message must be sent out that these attacks and persecution of journalists will not be tolerated." The government needs thorough investigation of the incidents to support the work of the media and allow them to continue independent reporting, free from harassment, it said. The statement further said that the IFJ is concerned that personal attacks on journalists are continuing simply for carrying out professional journalistic duties. "The abduction of journalists is a shocking occurrence and demonstrates the challenges media personnel face in trying to report on information which the public has a right to know," it added.
The statement comes in response to the abduction of three journalists within a few weeks period. On October 5, Birendra Sah, a Bara-based journalist associated with Avenues Television was abducted from Pipara Bazar, Kalaiya - 6, and his whereabouts is still unknown. Reports indicate that the abduction of Sah, and another journalist who was later released after torture, was the work of Maoists. Similarly, on October 3, an unknown group abducted journalist Pappu Gurung from Dodhara.
OHCHR raises HR violations by Maoists
KATHMANDU, Oct 16 - Richard Bennett, representative of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal), on Sunday raised concern over human rights violations with Maoist Chairman Prachanda.
In a meeting with Prachanda and senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Bennett raised concern over the right to physical integrity, liberty and security, pointing at the use of violence and intimidation by some cadres
of the CPN-M and affiliated
organizations.
A statement issued by OHCHR-Nepal said Bennett also raised the issue of abductions, including allegations of Maoist cadres' involvement in the case of missing journalist Birendra Sah.
"The Representative expressed concern over acts of public humiliation and threats by the CPN-M, including those directed against alleged 'criminals' or 'corrupt' people. He also noted reports of intimidation when asking for 'donations'," the statement said.
While stating that OHCHR has been monitoring the development of the Maoists' United Revolutionary People's Councils (URPC) in parts of Nepal, the statement said the OHCHR Representative sought clarification during the meeting about the role the Councils play, particularly in relation to governance and justice.
"Chairman Prachanda stated that they will not function as a parallel authority and that the CPN-M remains committed to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)," it said.
It further said OHCHR considers that public confidence in the CPN-M's commitment to human rights is undermined by human rights abuses committed by some of its cadres.
OHCHR reiterated its comment made in its June 2007 report into allegations of abuses of human rights by the CPN-M and Young Communist League (YCL) and said, "While there are legitimate concerns in relation to weaknesses of law enforcement agencies and other state institutions, as well as delays in implementing the CPA, these arguments cannot be used to justify people taking the law into their own hands, or any actions that amount to human rights abuses."
Govt, Badis reach deal
KATHMANDU, Oct 16 - The government talks team and Badi Struggle Committee have finally reached a two-point agreement.
Both the sides agreed to form a taskforce to study the entire problems of Badi community including their identity, rehabilitation, population, education, and alternative employment, among others, and recommend solutions. Both the talks teams agreed to solve the Badi community's problems through the government based on recommendations made by the taskforce.
Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel led the government talks team while Uma Devi Badi led the Badi women's talks team. Also, Minister of State for Water Resources Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, leaders of Nepali Congress Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and NP Saud were present during the talks.
The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction will coordinate with the taskforce while representatives from Home, Local, Finance, Labor, Land Reform, Education, Forest, Health, Women and Children ministries will be members, according to Binod Pahadi, who was present during the talks on behalf of Dalit and Civil Society Movement.
Likewise, the government agreed to cancel their citizenship certificates and other government documents that described them as Badeni, Pattar, Bhand and other derogatory words and give them new citizenship certificates and other documents with surnames of their castes and ethnicity, according to Pahadi.
Badi women, who are traditionally involved in prostitution due to economic as well as social backwardness and ostracism, had been protesting in the capital for the last few months demanding proper rehabilitation, an alternative respectable occupation and education, among other facilities from the government.
The Supreme Court in September 2005 had instructed the government to ensure their overall welfare, including social security and alternative employment. However, the government had not addressed their demands earlier.
Many children born to Badi women are still deprived of citizenship certificates and other opportunities.
The Badi community is found in Banke, Bardiya, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Dang districts of western Nepal.
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