"The press is free, but thousands of journalists work in fear of reprisals from either armed groups or political militants." Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), said in a statement issued on the World Press Freedom Day (May 3).
The risks have reached horrifying levels as more than 214 threats and assaults were reported in 2008, especially in the southern plains of the country, RSF said.
The country that became a republic in 2008 is a land favorable to independent media, where many dailies weeklies, TV stations an radios have been enjoying growing popularity. But security has not been restored following the end of the Maoist-led "popular war" in 2006, it said.
And in the light of hostile acts by Maoists, the genuine willingness of the majority party to respect media independence seems to be in doubt, it concludes.
"Outspoken publications including Himal Media and Kantipur, have been targeted for intimidation campaigns.
Militants in the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) and the All Nepal Communications Printing and Publications Workers Union (ANCPPWU), are regularly implicated in violence against media seen as hostile to the ruling party," it added.
Media persons working in southern part of the country, which is plagued by violent groups claiming loyalty to the separatist movement of the Madhesi people, are an easy target, the statement said.
The authorities, including the police, have failed in punishing those responsible and doing damage control.
"A pattern has emerged in attacks against the press in which journalists who report critically on events are subjected to violence and those carrying it out are not punished."
"The Maoist Prime Minister, Prachanda has promised a delegation of press freedom organizations including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in the beginning of 2009 that investigations into cases of journalists who have been killed or disappeared would be reopened. But the police quickly get out of their depth when it comes to identifying those responsible for assaults and threats," it said.
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