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The Bhutan Chapter of the Third World Media Network (TWMN) is calling international human rights bodies and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to investigate the arrest of a Bhutanese refugee who, it’s claimed, has been working as a reporter for a number of newspapers.
The Bhutan News Service (BNS), which operates in the Bhutanese refugee camps, says that Royal Bhutan Army soldiers arrested Shatiram Acharya, 21, a resident of Beldangi-II camp, Sector ‘D’, on January 16 at the Tashilakha outpost after accusing him of being a Maoist militant. The BNS says Acharya has since been handed over to the police station in Gedu, Chukha.
The online version of the Bhutan English language newspaper, Kuensel, claims that following questioning, Acharya revealed that in January 2006 he and six others were sent for training with the Nepal Maoist militants.
The TWMN Bhutan Chapter has expressed deep concern over the arrest and says that the security of detainees is uncertain inside Bhutanese jails.
Note: The TWMN Bhutan Chapter has started a discussion thread in this site's forum. Any registered members can join the debate.
"If Acharya is proven to be a journalist, he should get adequate support. International pressure needs to be put on the Druk regime in order to push for his early release."
The writer, T P Mishra, is president of Third World Media Network - Bhutan Chapter, a committee member of the Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) - Bhutan, chairman- Bhutan Media Society (Publication house of APFA - Bhutan), editor: The Bhutan Reporter, monthly, online editor: http://www.apfanews.com/ and chief coordinator: Helping Hand - Bhutan (A social organisation).
Note: The original submitted article has been edited by MHM. |
