The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is organising what it calls the Global Day of Action for Press Freedom in Nepal on Tuesday.

As part of this global campaign, the IFJ and its affiliates have also organised the Nepal Crisis Signature Campaign.

The campaign is taking place from August 7 to 31, with a view to garner mass solidarity at national and international levels. The collected signatures will be submitted to the UN General Assembly scheduled to meet in New York from September 14 to 17.

The IFJ has alleged that the royal government of Nepal has systematically and aggressively eroded press freedom and freedom of expression. Although the state of emergency was lifted in April, the climate of fear and harassment continues today, with threats, abductions, detention and torture still remaining a daily routine forced upon Nepali journalists, the organisation said.

The ongoing violation of civil liberties is unacceptable and must be stopped, the IFJ said.

There is an urgent need for increased international pressure on Nepal government to restore democracy and press freedom and stop the torture, abduction and harassment of media personnel and other forms of censorship, the IFJ said.

The Nepalese media community are risking their safety each day to protest and resist this repression. But they need more support, the organisation said.

A global organisation, IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries . nepalnews.com by Aug 30 05