December 31, 2005

KATHMANDU: Journalists across the country staged demonstrations on Friday, demanding press freedom and early end to the fresh curb on independent media.

Hundreds of journalists, human rights activists and representatives of professional organisations joined a rally organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) in the capital in the afternoon.

Addressing a gathering at Indra Chowk after a rally, FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri declared that journalists would continue their movement until the government ended control over the free press. He demanded that the government immediately withdraw the restrictive press law.

Nepal Bar Association (NBA) vice president Sher Bahadur KC, FNJ general secretary Mahendra Bista, chairman of Professionals’ Alliance for Peace & Democracy Nepal (PAPAD) Keshab Bhattrai also addressed the gathering.

In Chitwan, journalists took out a rally as part of their public awareness campaign on press freedom. Hundreds of journalists, rights activists and political workers took part in the rally in Gita Nagar, a remote VDC. This was the first demonstration staged by journalists outside the district headquarters in Chitwan.

The FNJ said its branch offices in various districts also organised similar rallies for press freedom and freedom of expression.