Global media organisations, including the Asia News Network, have taken serious exception to the arrest of Kantipur Media Group Chairman Kailash Sirihiya in Nepal and termed the government action as vengeful.

The Asia News Network (ANN), an alliance of 22 leading media in 20 countries, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister of FDR of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has called on the latter to exercise his authority to impair the misdeeds.

The letter, signed by ANN Chairman Mahfuz Anam, says that the ANN “is extremely concerned with the apparent media intimidation to the Kantipur Media Group’s newsroom on May 21, 2024 and prolonged detention of KMG Chairman Mr. Kailash Sirihiya.

The incident, which followed the media investigation into the conduct of a politician, will only impair Nepal’s reputation and its treatment of the press.

Kathmandu Post, the English-language media arm of KMG, is a long-time member of ANN. It has been an exemplary Asian media member – carrying the good reputation of your country and reporting rigorously on its challenges.

The conduct of the police with their intrusion into the KMG’s newsroom and heavy police presence on the premises are unacceptable in a media free environment; and so too is the case of Mr Sirihiya which would normally go through routine legal process. The rule of law must be fair and just; and not be seen and treated otherwise.

We would ask your excellency to immediately exercise your authority to impair the misdeeds and restore Nepal’s reputation and credibility which are essential for a country to move forward.”

The members of ANN comprise China Daily, Daily Star (Bangladesh), Dawn (Pakistan), Eleven Media (Myanmar), Gogo Mongolia, Jakarta Post (Indonesia), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rasmei Kampuchea, The Phnom Penh Post (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Yomiuri Shimbun/The Japan News, The Korea Herald, The Nation (Thailand), The Star, Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), The Straits Times (Singapore), Vientiane Times (Laos), Vietnam News.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday expressed alarm over the arrest of Sirihiya and called on Nepali authorities not to harass or intimidate the leadership or staff of the country’s largest media group in retaliation for its reporting.

“The arrest of Kantipur Media Group chairperson Kailash Sirihiya from his place of work appears to be an effort to muzzle the critical reporting of Nepal’s largest media group,” said CPJ Programme Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna, in New York. “We call on Nepali authorities to ensure that Kantipur Media Group can work freely and without fear of reprisal.”

Likewise, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest organisation of journalists, said on Thursday that Sirihiya’s arrest “is deeply concerning, especially considering the ongoing investigative work focused on allegations of misconduct by the Home Minister”.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international organisation focused on safeguarding the right to freedom of information, demanded the release of Sirihiya.

The United States-based Society of Professional Journalists has also questioned the motive behind Sirihiya’s arrest.

“We join the Federation of Nepali Journalists in questioning the actual motives behind the arrest,” SPJ said in a statement. “The FNJ said the arrest casts aspersions on the entire news-gathering sector. They added that the arrest of Sirihiya appears vindictive in nature.”