Journalist Ajaybabu Siwakoti feels threatened for practicing investigative journalism in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the federal capital and lies in Province 3.
Journalist Siwakoti is the editor at hamrakura.com.
As per information received by FF, journalist Siwakoti was picketed by the unknown people following the story he broke recently on scam of commission seeking by sitting Minister. He shared the activities of unknown people were suspicious and threatening to him.
With the breaking news of the audiotape in which Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gokul Baskota, was bargaining for bribe of Rs 700 million with a foreign company agent, Siwakoti earned accolade and the Minister was forced to resign.
Previously, he had broken a story by interviewing a woman- a victim of sexual harassment by then Speaker of the House of Representatives, which too made Speaker to step down from the post.
It is worth remembering that high level corruption and scam are unfolding in Nepal for some time.
FF condemns the incident where a journalist is intimidated merely for publishing stories. It is the right and duty of the journalist to expose misconduct and irregularities existing in society. In addition, FF urges the security agency to provide safety to journalist Siwakoti in view of possible threat.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
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Toll-Free Number- 16600102022