Nepal, Nov. 2 -- In a democracy, journalists are not supposed to become the story. Their job is to report facts and hold those in power accountable. They should be able to do their job without any fear. But on Friday, plainclothes police barged into several newsrooms in Kathmandu and took reporters into custody. The reporters became the news for doing their job.

This is a deeply problematic development-a warning that those in power may be losing patience with scrutiny. It raises serious questions about the government's commitment to press freedom. It amounts to an attempt to intimidate the media and prevent information unwelcome to those in power from reaching the public.

It is particularly troubling that a government formed on the back...