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FNJ urges journalists to defy order of regional administrator

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has urged all journalists of Dhaulagiri zone to defy all illegal orders of the regional administrator.

Central vice-president of FNJ, Gangadhar Parajuli, said the regional administrator is not authorized body to check the license of journalists and to monitor whether the journalists are following the Code of Conduct or not.

Acting upon the directive of zonal administrator Ramji Bista, the local administration on December 9 had ordered journalists based in Myagdhi, Baglung and Parbat districts in western region to be present before the Zonal Administration Office (ZAO) along with their license.

The regional administrator also asked Chief District Officers (CDO) of respective districts to be present along with journalists.

The FNJ has asked journalists of three districts to defy the order given by the unconstitutional regional administrator.

Report quoted vice-president Parajuli as saying it is an attempt of the repressive government to control media sector and to pressurize journalists not to write against administration.

However, regional administrator Bista said that he has issued the order not to control the fourth organ of the state, but to collect their support for maintaining peace and stability in the country.

He further said that he is trying top know about press representative card to control misuse of such cards and called journalists along with CDOs to systematize the one window policy of the government advertisement. nepalnews.com pb Dec 14 05