Nepal arrests 87 journalists, others as pro-democracy protests continue News
Nepal arrests 87 journalists, others as pro-democracy protests continue

[JURIST] Police in Nepal [JURIST news archive] Friday arrested 87 journalists protesting restrictions placed on the media since King Gyanendra [BBC profile] seized power [JURIST report] in February. Police also arrested 200 other protestors at a pro-democracy demonstration in Kathmandu attended by thousands. Protests have continued [JURIST report] throughout the country since King Gyanendra lifted a state of emergency but left heavy restrictions on the media and retained absolute power. Journalists gathered at a Kathmandu park Friday to protest the restrictions and a previous spate of arrests of journalists, six of whom reportedly remain in detention. The journalists taken into custody Friday were reportedly released [Kantipur Online report] hours after being detained. Gyanendra has maintained that the strict measures are necessary to battle a Maoist rebellion that has troubled the country since 1996 and to fight corruption. Kantipur Online has local coverage of events in Nepal. AP has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.