Close on the heels of similar disruption in Nepal Samacharpatra daily a few weeks ago, the Maoist-affiliated workers have disrupted the distribution of Annapurna Post and The Himalayan Times.
“For the last 3 days there has been a disruption in the distribution of AP and THT. On 21st July it did not reach the market because all distribution in Kathmandu was hijacked by the Maoist affiliated trade union,” states a statement issued by Ram Pradhan, the editor of THT, on behalf of The International Media Network Nepal, on Saturday.
The Maoist affiliated trade union workers (delivery boys) creating obstruction beat up dispatch staff of Annapurna Post and The Himalayan Times. “We conclude that such act is a blatant attack on the independent press and interference in the people’s right to information,” the statement adds.
According to the publisher, the delivery boys are not affiliated to the publishing organisations of the newspapers .. “Nine distribution agencies including RB News are involved in the distribution of these dailies and they manage all the things related to the distribution of these dailies. It is no concern of the publishers of Annapurna Post and The Himalayan Times on what kind of individuals are involved in the distribution of the papers and how much salary is paid to them,” the statement says.
The publisher has said that the act of the Maoist affiliated trade union into unilaterally and illogically demanding that delivery workers be given permanent employment is “a mockery of the labour laws in this country.”
“We believe that the rights of working staffers should be protected. However, the act of piling newspapers in the front door of their offices by taking control of the vehicles carrying the papers in the name of workers is a criminal offence. It is highly regrettable that the government is a silent spectator even at a time when a criminal act is being committed in media houses with impunity. The government has proved to be powerless to protect the right and independence of journalists.”
Recalling similar disruptions in Nepal Samacharpatra and in Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post some weeks ago, the statement says that incidents like these show that there is planned offensive against the private media houses. “This should be taken with utmost seriousness and there is the need to raise strong voices for press freedom.”
The statement adds that the publication of the newspapers will have to be suspended if the government continues to be a hapless onlooker and keeps tolerating the unjustified defiance of the Maoists. “We urge all media houses, journalists, political parties, international community, civil society readers and world agencies concerned with the development of media, protection of journalists and their rights, and press freedom to take the matter very seriously and express their solidarity for the freedom and independence of press in Nepal.”