Freedom Forum has been alarmed over the arrest of the information seekers in the capital city on August 14.
A group of activists campaigning for good governance named Solidarity for Dr KC Alliance had reached at the anti-graft body, Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), to register an application seeking information about the property details of Chief Commissioner at CIAA, Lokman Singh Karki.
The CIAA not only rejected registering the RTI application but also mobilized police and took nine activists under control for four hours. Those arrested by the police were Sashi Bikram Karki, Bijay Babu Shivakoti, Bhupa Dev Sah, Kedar Shivakoti, Raju Alemagar, Tina Shivakoti, Anant Pant, Sara Pyakurel and Rohit Chhetri, said alliance member Jagannath Lamichhane. They were however released after some hours.
Every citizen has the right to seek information from the public body, of public person, on any issue of public importance. Similarly, everyone has the right of peaceful gathering. But, the CIAA violated both of these rights.
Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the intimidation on peaceful gathering of youths working for the cause of good governance. The violation of RTI is equally condemnable. It is the mockery of constitutional body to act against the practice of citizens’ fundamental rights.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
Thapathali, Kathmandu
Post Box No: 24292
Phone No. 4102030, 4102022
Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np
Email: monitoring@freedomforum.org.np; info@freedomforum.org.np