Letter to the Nepal Embassy to India

ATJ Executive members at the recent routine bi-monthly meeting discuss certain issues, including arrest of Kathmandu reporter of Bod Kyi Bang Chen (Eng:Tibet Express). The following letter was sent to the Nepal ambassador to India to urge for the repeal of penalty and resumption of the Bod Kyi Bangchen’s circulation in Nepal.

14 April 2009

The Ambassador
Embassy of Nepal
Barakhamba Road
New Delhi 110 001

Your Excellency,

Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ) based in Dharamsala, India, would like to thank the government and people of Nepal for allowing Tibetan journalists to perform their journalistic duties in Nepal, especially during the Tibet protests in Kathmandu last year. We appreciate your government’s respect for freedom of press despite China's pressure.

However, ATJ has learnt that a reporter of Bod Kyi Bang Chen (Eng:Tibet Express) was arrested by police in Kathmandu recently while performing his reporting duties. He was released a day later but fined a penalty of Rs. 600,000 (Six Lacs). Bod Kyi Bang Chen (Eng:Tibet Express) was previously distributed by Dharma Kosha Press Pvt. Ltd., Phulbari Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal, which has now ceased the distribution of the said weekly newspaper after that incident.

On behalf of ATJ, I appeal to the government of Nepal to kindly ensure resumption of the Bod Kyi Bangchen’s circulation in Nepal and repeal the penalty levied on its Kathmandu based reporter.

We remain optimistic that your government will hold high the principles of democracy which form the very foundaton of the great country that Nepal is.

With best wishes,

Truly yours,

Tashi Wangchuk,
President