The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has criticised the Nepal government for not doing enough to protect journalists even after continuous threats and attacks on them.

“We urge the Nepalese government to take a firm stance against the shocking treatment of journalists,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said Wednesday, reinforcing the calls from the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) demanding the government provide journalists with adequate security.

“The increasing number of attacks and threats directed at journalists is deeply distressing,” Park added, “We are very concerned about the safety of threatened journalists and the Nepalese government must take responsibility to ensure its journalists’ basic human rights are protected.”

The IFJ’s call came after reports of physical attack, threats and abducton by different groups including the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MFJ) and the two factions of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) over the past few weeks. There were reports of harassment of journalists by the police also.

The IFJ, which represents over 500,000 journalists worldwide, also condemned the treat and verbal abuse by the management of New Delhi-based Nepal 1 television to its employees, which led to the resignation of eight newscasters.

“This is shocking news that reflects terribly on the management of Nepal 1 TV,” Asia Pacific Director Park said, adding, “The IFJ calls on Nepal 1 television to launch an investigation into these threats and verbal attacks, to ensure bullying such as this no longer occurs in their workplace.”