Responding to the news that two journalists, Rajan Kuikel and Narayan Amrit, were summoned by the Supreme Court administration and pressured to disclose their sources and apologize for the publication of a story about an alleged meeting between Prime Minister K.P Oli and Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana, Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal, said:
Nepal’s authorities must respect the constitutionally guaranteed right to press freedom and refrain from intimidating and harassing journalists simply for publishing news. If there are disagreements over media content, they must follow the due processes and not resort to highhanded approaches that may lead to a climate of fear and insecurity among journalists.
Nirajan Thapaliya, Director, Amnesty International
“Nepal’s authorities must respect the constitutionally guaranteed right to press freedom and refrain from intimidating and harassing journalists simply for publishing news. If there are disagreements over media content, they must follow the due processes and not resort to highhanded approaches that may lead to a climate of fear and insecurity among journalists.”
“We call on the authorities to ensure an environment in which journalists can carry out their work freely without any fear of reprisal. A free press is a precondition for the protection, promotion and fulfilment of the right to freedom of expression and the right to information.”
Background:
On 25 May 2021, Rajan Kuikel, editor of imagekhabar.com, and Narayan Amrit, editor of nepalsamaya.com were summoned for a meeOn 25 May 2021, Rajan Kuikel, editor of imagekhabar.com, and Narayan Amrit, editor of nepalsamaya.com were summoned for a meeting by the Supreme Court administration. Prior to summoning the two editors, the Supreme Court administration had issued a Press Statement refuting the news and warning of “legal actions” if the “misleading” news was not corrected.