FNJ, NBA to observe Feb 1 as ‘black day’

January 29, 2006
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Two prominent professional organizations – the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella organization of Nepalese journalists and the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) – have announced to observe February 1 as ‘black day’.

Organising a press meet in Kathmandu today, FNJ officials said a national conference has been planned in the capital followed by a demonstration at New Road, a restricted area, in protest against the government curb on the independent press. Journalists from different parts of the country, who have faced arrests and torture from the state, are also scheduled to participate in the conference, they informed.

The FNJ also asked its branch offices in the districts to organise programs to mark February 1 as ‘black day’.

Speaking at the press meet, FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri said that as press freedom is related to political freedom, it should not be isolated from the ongoing movement for democracy.

On February 1 last year, King Gyanendra sacked a four-party government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and assumed direct power. Restriction on political rights and press freedom has been tightened since then.

Meanwhile, the NBA, the umbrella organization of Nepalese law professionals, today announced to mark February 1 as ‘black day’, saying that people’s rights and the rule of law deteriorated in the country after the February 1 royal move.

Issuing a statement, the NBA directed its 81 units around the country to organise programs as part of marking February 1 as ‘black day’.