A media vechile vandalized

A van belonging to weekly newspaper, The Journalist, published from Thimphu was vandalized by unknown attackers on mid night May 12.

The van was returning office after dropping home on of the paper’s IT staffs, when it was hit at around 12.45 pm, as it passed the road above the golf course area in Thimphu, near Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) building.

The scene of the vandalized van. Photo/Kuensel

Suspected to be hit by stone, vehicle’s left window at the back seat and the rear window are badly shattered, pieces of which fell inside the car. Driver and another staff in the car remain safe. They immediately informed the police for investigation.

Newspaper editor Gopilal Acharya, however, suspects a stray bullet might have hit the van though police say it is not.
Acharya is also the president of Journalists Association of Bhutan (JAB).

It is the first incident of attack on press in the country. The Journalist weekly is being published by the journalists who left Bhutan Times in mass last year alleging managerial interference into the editorial matters.

Meanwhile, the Association of Press Freedom Activist (APFA-Bhutan) has shown deep concern towards the incident. In a media statement issued by IP Adhikari, the president of APFA-Bhutan, it said that the attack would not only derail the morality of the journalists, but also curtails their safety and the right to information of the Bhutanese people.

“The government must investigate the incident thoroughly and punish those involved in the attack. The government must also ensure safety and security of the media persons,” reads the statement.
Source: www.bhutannewsservice.com