The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), an umbrella organization of the working journalists in the country, has said the Maoists’ latest views towards Nepali press is `positive.’
Reacting to the letter sent by the CPN (Maoist) to the FNJ, president of FNJ, Taranath Dahal, said the Maoists’ attitude should reflect in their activities also.
Dahal was commenting on the letter faxed by Maoist spokesman, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, to the FNJ, which said that his party was in favour of press freedom and freedom of expression in the country.
The CPN (Maoist) wrote the letter to the FNJ after the latter launched a nationwide movement against what it said Maoist atrocities against media personnel and also issued an ultimatum.
In his letter, Mahara said it was not his party’s policy to harm the press people physically or mentally. He said killing of Dekendra Raj Thapa in Dailekh district was against the party’s central policy. He said the party had conducted ‘self-criticism’ on the issue and a serious investigation was undergoing regarding the incident.
Mahara said his party had already directed lower party units to free journalists, if any, from their custody and not to threaten journalists.
According to FNJ, whereabouts of three journalists (Dhan Bahadur Magar, Kul Bahadur Malla and Parek Raj Shahi) remain unknown after they were abducted by the rebels. nepalnews.com by Sep 12 04