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VOL. 28, NO. 17, Jan 02, 2009 (Paush 18 2065 B.S.)
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Pact By Pact
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) suspends agitation following pact with government. But whether it is sufficient to check excesses against press is unclear
By A CORRESPONDENT
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and the government signed a ten-point pact, Sunday (Dec 28) night, following which it suspended its protest program.
"They have agreed that prime minister will give a commitment at the parliament on security guarantee for journalists. Likewise, they have agreed to create a focal point in the Ministry of Information to work on press freedom," said Dharmendra Jha, president of FNJ.
The FNJ has, however, said that its could resume protests if there are indications that the government would not fulfill them.
"We are only suspending our agitation. We are not ending it right away," said Jha. The protests were sparked by attack against Himalmedia and the obstruction in publication of Kantipur's eastern regional edition by pro-Maoist workers.
Meanwhile, the two main accused in violent attack on Himalmedia who had surrendered to the District Administration Office (DAO), Lalitpur, have been sent to ten day police remand for investigation.
Ramesh Babu Pant, chairman of All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, and Ramesh K.C, vice-chairman of All Nepal Communications, Printing and Publication Workers' Union went to Lalitpur DAO and surrendered themselves. Following their surrender the duo were handed over to the District Police Office in Lalitpur.
Both have denied their involvement in the Himalmedia attack, but said they surrendered just to "abide by the rule of law".
Earlier, Himalmedia had filed a case at the Lalitpur Metropolitan Police Range against the attackers, demanding legal action against them.
The Alliance for Press Freedom has continued to express concerns about the increasing attacks on the media in the name of the rights of the workers, stating that the act of the Maoist trade union was part of a systematic political conspiracy and a planned move against press freedom.
The alliance has also expressed concern about the obstruction caused in the distribution and publication of Kantipur in Biratnagar by a Maoist-affiliated trade union.
"It cannot be only a coincidence that the government calls for talks while the Maoist union seizes Kantipur in Biratnagar," stated a release issued by the Alliance. The trade union has also threatened to take lives of journalists and other professionals associated with the media. Maoist unionists had earlier obstruct work at the regional office of Kantipur Publications in Biratnagar for five consecutive days. The Kathmandu Post and its sister publication Kantipur could not be published due to the obstructions.
In a statement last week, Kantipur Publications had said, "The Publications has already addressed the major demands of workers including the implementation of salaries as increased by the government, making those completing 240 days in office permanent employees, and shifting the fund of the permanent employees to employees' Provident Fund."
Chief of United Nations Mission in Nepal Ian Martin visited Kantipur Publications offices in Kathmandu to inquire about the ongoing attacks on the press freedom. Talking to the press after the visit, Martin said that he came to the publications house to hear for himself the concerns that the Kantipur Publications had been expressing in the manner in which freedom of expression was being limited.
"There is great concern certainly at the moment in the international community that press freedom and media freedom should exist in Nepal and of course industrial disputes should be pursued within the legal framework that exist and not with threats of violence," said Martin.
