freedom1 Forum has been concerned over government's negligence towards the demands raised by the anti-corruption campaigners who are staging fast-onto-death under the leadership of Sharada Bhushal Jha at Shantibatika in the capital. The police have time and again disrupted the peaceful protest of Bhushal violating their right to freedom1 of expression. Today (March 1) is the eighth day of the fast-onto-death begun by the Bhushal's team which had earlier staged protest at the gate of Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) demanding action against those involved in massive financial irregularities at Banauli Danauli VDC of Mahottari district in the southern plain of Nepal. They have been in struggle with 11-point demands including the appointments of officials in the CIAA, anti-graft body, investigation into the huge corruptions in the local bodies in various districts of the southern plains in the country. In course of the peaceful protest, Bhushal and her team were detained by the police thereby suppressing the right to peaceful protest. The peaceful protest launched by Bhusal's team is very relevant and pious at a time the local bodies have been corrupt all across the country and foiling the atmosphere for good government. freedom1 Forum condemns the arrest of the team and express solidarity to the peaceful protest. It is worth mentioning here that Bhusal and her team had staged similar protests in Mahottari district in the previous year too.
Freedom Forum is a prominent non-governmental organization in Nepal dedicated to institutionalizing democracy, protecting and promoting human rights, press freedom, freedom of expression, right to information, promoting audit accountability, open and accountable budget, public finance reforms, citizen engagement in public finance management and citizen participation in audit. Established in February 2005, the organization emerged in response to the political turmoil following Former King Gyanendra’s coup dated February 1, 2005, which imposed severe restrictions on media and democratic rights. A group of media professionals, legal experts, and academics founded Freedom Forum to safeguard Nepal’s hard-earned democratic freedoms during this repressive period.
