BNS associate editor threatened for life

Source: www.apfanews.com
May 18, 2008: Cadres of the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist Leninist Maoist) – faction led by Birat – threatened to kill associate editor of Bhutan News Service Ichha Poudel on Friday, May 16.

Poudel who was invited to a program organized by party in Beldangi I camp threatened for his life alleging him of recording the speech delivered in the function and taking pictures.

Poudel had only mobile phone, not either voice recorder or camera.

The party cadres forcefully pulled him to stage and asked him to clarify his intention. After Poudel identified himself as journalists associated with Bhutan News Service, he was again thrashed out of stage alleging him of confiscating the microphone without authority.

When he came out of the program, the communist cadres followed him. Fearing insecurity, he lived with relatives in another camp.

The communist cadres also threatened to take ‘stern action’ against Arjun Pradhan, local reporter for Bhutan News Service. Pradhan also attended the function along Poudel.

Several cadres reached the residents of Pradhan and Poudel in the evening threatening the family members.

In a joint statement, Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) Bhutan, Bhutan Press Union and Third World Media Network (TWMN) Bhutan Chapter strongly condemned the actions of CPB (MLM) and urged the assailants to respect the rights of journalists. They also asked party not to repeat such behavior in future.