NEPAL: Editor Baid returns to Kathmandu, continues fast-unto-death

Editor pledges to continue fast until royal government restores democracy and press freedom in Nepal

Nepal News
Friday, November 25, 2005

AsiaMedia Editor's Note: Reports are unclear as to whether the lifting of the state of emergency on April 30 allows for press freedom, and thus Nepalnews may still be operating under the directives of King Gyanendra.

Editor and publisher of Bimarsha weekly, Rajendra Baid, returned to Kathmandu from New Delhi Thursday to continue his fast-unto-death demanding restoration of 'absolute democracy, press freedom and right to information in the country.'

Baid had started fast-unto-death at Hotel Amazon Lily in Dhaka where 15 days ago to draw the attention of South Asian leaders who had assembled in the Bangladeshi capital to attend the 13th SAARC summit. After Bangladeshi authorities deported him to Nepal via Delhi, Baid decided to continue his fast in the Indian capital itself.

Talking to reporters at the premises of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) at Sinamangal, where he has decided to continue his fast, a frail-looking Baid said he would continue his protest unless his demands were met. Senior journalists, however, asked him to discontinue his fast and join the joint struggle being launched by the FNJ for the restoration of democracy and press freedom in the country.

Date Posted: 11/25/2005