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Int’l media organizations flay Himalmedia attack

The violent attack on the offices and personnel of Himalmedia by workers associated with CPN (Maoist) has drawn flak from international media organizations.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the assault on Himalmedia by a mob of about 50 people led by leaders of Maoist aligned trade unions Sunday, which left about a dozen staffers, including editor/publisher Kunda Dixit of Nepali Times, injured. The IFJ also called on Nepalese authorities to initiate immediate action against the attackers and their leaders, who have been identified in reports.

"This attack on Himalmedia is an attack on press freedom and has nothing to do with the defence of journalism or the public interest", said Jacqueline Park, director of the IFJ Asia-Pacific, in a statement issued Monday.

In the statement, IFJ also said it supports Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)’s plans to hold demonstrations in protest against this incident.

At least 12 journalists were injured Monday when police intervened in a rally taken out by FNJ in the capital to protest the attack on Himalmedia.

FNJ secretary Ramji Dahal sustained injury in his head as police resorted to baton-charging at Maitighar. The police beat up several other journalists taking part in the peaceful demonstration.

Condemning the police high-handedness in the peaceful rally taken out by journalists, FNJ has said it would soon launch a series of protests against the attack on the free press.

As part of the scheduled protest programme, FNJ is planning to take out a similar demonstration rally from New Baneshwor to Maitighar.

Maitighar is an area where all kinds of demonstrations and rallies are prohibited.

Similarly, New-York based Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) has also urged the government to probe the attack on Himalmedia and take action against the perpetrators of the assault.

Meanwhile, the Nepalese Americas Council (NAC) said it is disturbed by the news of assault on Himalmedia and strongly denounced it.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the coordinating body for 29 North American Nepalese-American member organizations also urged the government to bring the perpetrators of this attack to book.

“Free press is a crucial pillar of democracy, and investigative journalism serves the societal interest in a democracy. By intimidating and attacking the press, the perpetrators are threatening the viability of the emerging democracy in Nepal,” NAC said. nepalnews.com ag Dec 23 08