The fifth central committee meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has announced new phase of protest programmes against what it called the government’s on-going suppression of Nepali media.
The two-month long protest programme announced by the FNJ include interaction, rallies and other programmes calling for restoration of total press freedom in the country.
The meeting also terminated the general membership of P. Kharel, Jashuda Pradhan, Jib Ram Bhandari, Ram Prasad Khanal, Kumar Yatru, Indra Rizal, Rajesh Jha, Komal Oli, Bhagawan Tripathi, Dinesh Shah, Badri Prasad Kafle, Krishna Pariyar, Nabindra Sharma and Karna Prakhar Dhital alleging them of acting against the movement for press freedom in the country. The journalists in question actively participated in the first conference of National Federation of Journalists (NFJ)—that supports the royal takeover of Feb. 1 last year.
The FNJ has urged the government and Maoist rebels to observe ceasefire immediately and create an environment for peaceful solution to the crisis facing the country. The FNJ has also demanded immediate release of all detainees arrested from peaceful rallies.
The umbrella organization of the country’s media professionals alleged that security forces have been misbehaving with the journalists and media houses in districts and asked the local authorities to take action against the members of security forces involved in such activities.
FNJ said that its agitation will continue unless atrocities against press are stopped and the government withdraws the media ordinance promulgated in October last year.