KATHMANDU, Sept 20: The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has condemned threats allegedly made by CPN-UML youth leader Mahesh Basnet and his associates against journalist Tekman Shakya, editor of Nepalesetimes.com.
In a statement on Saturday, the FNJ said the threats were intended to intimidate and silence Shakya, raising serious concerns over the state of press freedom in the country. The FNJ’s Bagmati Province Committee reported that Shakya has repeatedly received threats in connection with his reporting.
“The FNJ strongly denounces such acts of intimidation, which are unacceptable and undermine the very foundation of a free press,” the statement read. It urged individuals who disagree with published reports to seek redress through lawful means rather than resorting to threats.
The umbrella organization of journalists across the country also called on authorities to take immediate and strict legal action against those responsible. Shakya alleged that Basnet and his associates contacted him through phone calls and messages over his reporting on vandalism and arson at Basnet’s residence during the Gen-Z movement.
