Editorial| The government should stop intimidating journalists
Summary
Plainclothes police entered several newsrooms in Kathmandu and took reporters into custody, prompting accusations that the government is intimidating the media. The editorial says the arrests violate Nepal’s constitutional guarantees of press freedom and demands a public explanation and apology.
Key Points
- Plainclothes police barged into several newsrooms in Kathmandu and arrested reporters, triggering a backlash over press freedom.
- The editorial says the government must apologize, clarify who authorized the operation, and ensure such intimidation is not repeated.
- It argues that Nepal’s constitution protects press freedom and that arbitrary arrests cannot be justified by dissatisfaction with news coverage.
- The piece warns the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party that it cannot distance itself from the conduct of its administration.
