-Update-
As the national and international support and solidarity pour in, demanding the release of Kailash Sirohiya, chairperson of Kantipur Media Group, the Dhanusha district court extended remand for three more days to him on May 27. It is the third time his remand is extended.
The largest national media – Kantipur Media Group’s chairperson Kailash Sirohiya was arrested on May 21 from the media office in Kathmandu.
Sirohiya was arrested on the basis of an arrest warrant issued from District Court, Dhanusha following a complaint filed on April 28, accusing him of holding multiple citizenships.
The arrest warrant was however issued following a series of investigative news stories covered by the Kantipur daily about Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s involvement in the misappropriation of several cooperative funds.
The complaint was lodged by a committee member of a sister organization of Minister Lamichhane’s Rastriya Swatantra Party.
On the day of arrest, police officers barged into the publication’s house and arrested Sirohiya from his office chamber. Dozens of freedom of expression advocates reached the media house against the arrest of Sirohiya. Chairperson Sirohiya was however taken to Dhanusha District Police Office where he has been kept in detention.
On May 22, Dhanusha District Court remanded Sirohiya to custody for three more days for further investigation on citizenship related case.
In response to the incident, thirty-one editors of mainstream media submitted a joint letter to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to draw the attention of Nepal government on the arrest case. The letter reads- the context of Sirohiya’s arrest from the media house was intended to create fear and pressure on the press.
On May 23, delegates from Press Council Nepal visited the media house to monitor the arrest of Chairperson Sirohiya and its effect upon the journalists in newsroom. The Council talked to the journalists and informed that they will make public the Council’s opinion on the case after thorough investigation.
Similarly, National Human Rights Commission Nepal central office team visited the Kantipur Media Group office in Kathmandu and NHRC Madhesh Province office team met Chairperson Sirohiya in the police custody to investigate the case on May 22. NHRC urges Nepal government to fairly investigate the case in line with the human rights guaranteed by the Nepal’s constitution and international laws to ensure freedom of press and expression.
Moreover, other national organizations relating to media and freedom of expression including Federation of Nepali Journalists and Press Union Nepal and several international organizations including International Federation of Journalists have denounced the arrest of Chairman Sirohiya.
In a recent visit to Nepal, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard also showed concern over Sirohiya’s arrest.
Since the beginning of incident, Freedom Forum has reiterated its stand that Sirohiya was arrested in evident vengeance after the Kantipur daily’s continuous reporting on embezzlement of cooperative funds where the DPM Lamichhane had involvement.
“It is sheer mockery of press freedom and freedom of expression to harass Sirohiya with multiple extension of remand while he already showed readiness to cooperate with State agencies in relation to the citizenship case. But, the misuse of State authority by the government to suppress press freedom is clearly reflected in it,” observed Chief Executive at FF, Taranath Dahal, adding that Sirohiya’s prompt release is imperative to create fear-free atmosphere for media and respect press freedom as guaranteed by the constitution.
