The journalists informed during a discussion programme organised yesterday that 'The Himalayan Times' reporter Somnath Bastola had received threats from the Maoist cadres. Sita Mademba, BBC's Dharan-based correspondent, said that party cadres working in the guise of journalists had put the life of professional journalists at risk. Few days ago, Maoist leaders in Dharan had threatened Mademba over a report.
A Maoist aligned journalist also threatened her when she posted a comment on Facebook about the threat. Mahesh Shrestha, Dharan reporter of Terai TV, said he had also received indirect threats from the former rebels. He said a co-worker had spied on him on the guise of journalist. In a press release issued after the discussion, participants informed that Maoist cadres also threatened THT scribe Ratna Prasad Acharya, Santosh Koirala and Sudip Koirala of 'Rajdhani Daily' and Yam Pradhan of 'Terai TV'. The journalists have urged the government to provide them security. They have issued a three-day ultimatum to the Maoists to make public the culprits and apologise in public and warned to launch stir.
Meanwhile, Reporters Without Frontiers has issued a statement condemning the attack on media persons by the Maoists during the May day programme in Kathmandu.
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