SAARC Journalists Forum condemns arrest of senior Nepalese journalist demands immediate release

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Journalists Forum strongly condemns the arrest of senior Nepalese journalist and editor-in-chief of the Jana Aastha Weekly magazine Kishor Shrestha and demands his immediate and unconditional release.

Police officers attached to the Kathmandu District Police Range and the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested Kishor Shrestha in Lalitpur yesterday (12), over an alleged violation of the 2018 Privacy Act.

Describing the direct detention of a senior editor over reporting activities as a severe blow to press freedom, democratic principles, and freedom of expression across South Asia, the regional body emphasised that grievances regarding published reports should be directed to established regulatory authorities, such as the Press Council Nepal, or resolved through civil litigation instead of arbitrary detention.

The forum further emphasised that using law enforcement mechanisms to detain journalists creates a chilling effect on the independent press, undermines public interest investigative journalism, and violates the fundamental rights to free speech guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal.

In a formal statement, the Central Executive Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Journalists Forum, which emphasised that press freedom remains a fundamental pillar of democracy across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation region, urged the Nepalese authorities to adhere strictly to international standards.

Coinciding with the demand for the immediate release of Kishor Shrestha, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Journalists Forum called upon the Nepalese government and law enforcement agencies to cease weaponising criminal laws against media professionals, respect the proper regulatory process, and ensure a safe, intimidation-free operating environment for all media workers.

The President of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Journalists Forum, Raju Lama, confirmed that the forum stands in firm solidarity with the media community in Nepal while closely monitoring developments.