Beware (poem)
Date: 1986
Region: Asia
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Literature
Artist: Rup Chand Bista
Confronting Bodies: Nepal's Panchayat government
Dates of Action: October 1986
Location: Nepal
Description of Artwork: Bista's poem, Beware, criticizes the performance of many of the government appointed ministers of parliament.
The Incident: The poem was published in the non-governmental newspaper, Weekly Debate. Bista was charged with "spreading malice and hatred toward the king" under the Treason Act, because of his poem.
Results of Incident: Bista was released in April, 1987. No charges were filed. The arrest helped organize his political party, and improved election results for candidates who supported his release.
Source: Censorship, A World Encyclopedia, ed. D. Jones