“The Maoists did not tolerate freedom of expression.” The United States State Department said this in an annual human rights report for 2002 released this month.

“They tightly restricted the print and broadcast media under its control,” the report said. Rebels killed two journalists in the period under review. On August 50, Maoists killed Nawaraj Sharma, editor of Karnali Sandesh, in Kalikot District and abducted and killed Ambika Timilsena, a former reporter for Maoist-affiliated Janadesh, the report added.

Maoists abducted and tortured in custody Demling Lama, a correspondent for Radio Nepal and Himalayan Times in Sindhupalchowk on April 5, the review said. “Approximately 100 journalists had been detained for varying amounts of time since the beginning of the state of emergency (Nov.2001). By year’s end, 24 journalists and nine other employees of newspapers continued to be detained,” the report said on government handling of the press.

Among those detained were Gopal Budhathoki, editor and publisher of Saanghu Weekly, Shyam Shrestha, editor of monthly publication Mulyanakan and Tikaram Rai, editor of Aparanha. The report said some journalists have suffered human rights abuses.

“In May, local newspaper Jana Astha reported that Krishna Sen, editor of the daily Janadisha was re-arrested and killed in custody. The Government denied the claim. No investigation into Krishna’s death was initiated by year’s end,” the report said.