Journalists arrested at Nepal press protest

[struggle4progress]

By Binaj Gurubacharya, Associated Press

KATMANDU, Nepal — Nepalese police Friday arrested 87 journalists gathering to protest press restrictions imposed since King Gyanendra assumed absolute power earlier this year. Separately, police arrested 200 protesters at a rally of thousands demanding that democracy be restored. <snip>

"We were gathering for a peaceful rally, but the government used police to break it up," said Bishnu Nisthuri, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, an umbrella group.

She was among those arrested and spoke to The Associated Press by cell phone from a Katmandu detention facility. <snip>

After assuming power Feb. 1, the king banned criticism of his regime, the government or security forces, as well as independent reporting on Nepal's communist insurgency. Journalists must get information on security issues from the army or police. Dozens of reporters have been arrested, and six are believed to be still jailed. <snip>

http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_3037941