10:20 am: Nepal frees journalists detained for protesting restrictions ..

[struggle4progress]

.. after international outcry

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA | Associated Press
June 14, 2005

KATMANDU, Nepal - Nepal on Tuesday freed all the journalists detained in a protest of media restrictions, bowing to international demands that the reporters be released at once.

King Gyanendra imposed the media restrictions four months ago, when he seized total control of the Himalayan kingdom and declared a state of emergency, saying restrictive measures were needed to quell a communist insurgency. <snip>

The protesters from the Federation of Nepalese Journalists were arrested as they marched into a restricted area near the royal palace, chanting: "Free the press! Withdraw censorship!" <snip>

Criticism of the king, the government and security forces has been banned, along with any independent reporting on the country's communist insurgency. Journalists must get all of their information on security issues from the army or police. <snip>

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