<< PREVIOUS
Nepal: Writer under threat; fears for safety
PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) | RAN 13/12 20 March 2012
PEN International is seriously concerned for the safety of writer and journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, who is among three leading figures to be facing implicit death threats after being declared ‘People’s Enemies’ by Nepal’s ruling Maoist party. PEN International demands that all three men be given immediate protection.PEN is dismayed that journalists and writers continue to be targeted with apparent impunity in Nepal, and it reminds the Nepali authorities of their obligations to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nepal is a signatory.
According to PEN’s information, senior journalist and popular children’s writer Kanak Mani Dixit is amongst three leading figures to have been declared ‘people’s enemies’ in an article published in the 30 January 2012 edition of the monthly magazine Lalrakshak(Red Guards), the mouthpiece of the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-Maoist). Also targeted are Kul Chandra Gautam, a former U.N. assistant secretary-general and a longstanding deputy executive director of the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF, and human rights activist Subodh Raj Pyakurel, executive director of Informal Services Sector (INSEC), the largest non-governmental human rights organisation in Nepal. All three men are believed to be threatened for their outspoken criticism of the Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', in particular their calls for him and his party to renounce the use of violence.
In a letter to the Nepali Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, the three men state that the Lalrakshak article is “an incitement to violence, and part of an all-out attack that is underway against a broad range of civil society actors from the districts in the capital, including journalists, lawyers and rights activists.” For further information see the 15 February 2012 article by the Inter-Press Service (IPS).
Kanak Mani Dixit is editor of the Himal Southasian regional magazine and publisher of the Nepali-language Himal Khabarpatrika news magazine. He is also the author of a number of children’s books.
Background
After a ten-year long insurgency, a peace agreement was reached by the government of Nepal and the CPN-Maoist party in November 2006, in which both sides agreed to respect press freedom. However, during 2007 this fragile peace process deteriorated, tension between the army and the Maoists grew and reports of attacks on journalists and media outlets began to escalate. The Maoists withdrew from the interim government in September 2007, demanding abolition of the monarchy. Parliament agreed to this condition in December that year, and the rebels rejoined the government. The Maoists emerged as the largest party in parliament following elections in April 2008, and the monarchy was abolished a month later. A new Maoist-dominated government finally took office in August 2008, but quickly disintegrated in May 2009. Successive leaders have failed to secure cross-coalition support to implement the peace agreement or draft a constitution to address longstanding political, social, ethnic, and economic inequalities. Political instability continues, and journalists and writers continue to be targeted with apparent impunity.
Please send appeals:
- Expressing serious concern for the safety of writer Kanak Mani Dixit, Kul Chandra Gautam and human rights activist Subodh Raj Pyakurel, and calling on the Nepali authorities to provide them with effective protection immediately;
- Urging the authorities to make clear that labelling people as “people’s enemies” is inappropriate and an incitement to attack;
- Calling on the authorities to take all necessary measures to protect writers, journalists and human rights activists in Nepal, in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nepal is a signatory.
Send appeals to:
Appeals to:
Prime Minister
Rt Honorable Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai
Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
Singh Durbar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977-1-4211000
P.O. Box: 23312
Email: bhattaraibaburam@gmail.com
Home Minister
Bijay Kumar Gachhadar
Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
Singh Durbar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977-1-4211000
P.O. Box: 23312
Email: bhattaraibaburam@gmail.com
If possible please send appeals via the diplomatic representative for Nepal in your country.
**Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals after 30 April 2012**
For further details contact Cathy McCann, 50/51 Brownlow House, High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: + (0) 20 7405 0339. Email: Cathy.McCann@pen-international.org.uk
Cathy McCann/ Researcher / PEN International
Brownlow House
50-51 High Holborn
London WC1V 6ER.
t. +44 (0)20 7405 0338 | f. +44 (0)20 7405 0339 | e. Twitter | Facebook | www.pen-international.org
Celebrating 90 years of promoting literature and defending freedom of expression
International PEN is trading as PEN International. International PEN is a company registered in England and Wales with registration number 05683997. International PEN is a registered charity in Englandand Wales with registration number 1117088. International PEN’s registered office is Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6ER,UK.
