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