Media Society asks for protection; THT/AP staffers prevented from entering office premises

In view of continued disruption of distribution of The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post dailies and shutdown of Radio HBC FM by pro-Maoist workers, the Nepal Media Society has appealed to the government to provide protection to media houses, protect their right to dissemination of information and ensure that daily work in their offices or printing presses is not obstructed.

"The society also appeals to the government of Nepal to ensure immediate resumption of the working of these two dailies and HBC FM. In case the government does not ensure their smooth functioning we would be compelled to take strong steps. The Society also appeals to readers, civil society, advertisers, well-wishers to unite to protect the right to receive and give information," states a statement issued by Kailash Sirohiya, acting president of Society.

The Society, which is an association of publishers and broadcasters of independent media organisations, has accused that though independent media is necessary for the establishment and protection of a real democracy, the pro-Maoist union is disrupting the functioning of media houses by issuing threats, holding demonstrations outside the offices, stopping the distribution of newspapers and obstructing the printing of the dailies.

The Society has regretted the inaction by the government in the face of continued attack against private media.

The Nepal Media Society in its meeting held on Monday condemned the interference of the pro-Maoist unions in the working of newspapers and FM radio stations. "It is also forced to conclude in view of the ongoing counter-productive and disruptive activities of such unions against organizations, which are striving to inform people, work for human rights and freedom, that democracy really does not exist in the country. The Society urgently appeals to the CPN-Maoist and its affiliated trade unions to immediately desist from negative activities."

Meanwhile, The Himalayan Times has issued a statement saying that the Maoist aligned union prevented THT/AP staffers from entering office premises.

Owing to the workers disturbance the police rounded up 58 Maoist trade union workers. They were later freed.

The Maoist workers orgnised a corner meeting at the premises of the APCA Nepal later in the evening and warned the journalists to be sensitive while writing news about them. They also threatened to close down the newspapers if their demands were not met.

On Sunday, the Maoist-aligned trade union workers had threatened the journalists of physical action if they wrote news related to them.

Furthermore, on Monday afternoon, police arrested journalists for staging a sit-in in front of Sighdurbar. The journalists led by Nepal Press Union had staged the sit-in demanding immediate end to interference in press freedom. nepalnews.com sd Aug 13 07

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