Watchdog criticises Nepal rebels on press freedom

KATHMANDU, Nov 1 (Reuters) Nepal's Maoist guerrillas remain intolerant of media criticism although there has been a drop in attacks on journalists, an international media watchdog has said.

The Maoists threatened at least four journalists since September and also forcibly occupied a building owned by the state-run television in west Nepal, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement late yesterday.

The rebels launched a violent campaign in 1996 to topple the monarchy - a conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives.

A ceasefire is holding between the government and Maoists since King Gyanendra restored democracy after weeks of mass protests in April. They have since resumed peace talks that collapsed in 2001 and 2003.

''Even though Maoist attacks on journalists have considerably decreased compared to previous years, they are nevertheless regular and symptomatic of a failure to tolerate criticism,'' the RSF statement said.

It said the Maoists also formed a human chain and prevented the press from reaching the location of a meeting between the government and rebel leaders in Kathmandu last month.

''The Maoist party's most senior leaders have sworn their commitment to the freedom and security of journalists,'' the RSF said.

''These commitments should be urgently respected in practice.'' Maoists were not immediately available for comments.

Yesterday, the Nepali Congress, the country's biggest political party, accused the rebels of attacking and kidnapping its workers in violation of a code of conduct linked to the peace process.

REUTERS MS RAI0908