Monday, March 28 2005 21:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Expressing solidarity with Nepalese journalists, the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) today (Mar 28, 2005) condemned the "brutal censorship" of media in Nepal and said it would organise protest marches for immediate restoration of a free press in that country.

Just back from a fact-finding mission to Nepal, a SAFMA team released its report on the situation in the Himalayan kingdom, claiming that while ten journalists were still under detention, many more were missing.

"Draconian laws like the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities Ordinance are being used at random against journalists who, in most cases, are being kept under detention at military barracks, police stations or unknown places," said SAFMA secretary general Imtiaz Alam.

According to the report, "dozens of journalists were arrested, many dailies and weeklies were forced to shut down, FM radio stopped from relaying any news, private television networks barred from telecasting dissent and journalists forced to either stop work or take asylum," in the days following the imposition of emergency.