In that bastion of Asian democracy known as Nepal more than 200 journalists took to the street yesterday to demand the restoration of press freedom. Good luck!
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has staged a series of demonstrations and marches as it demands all manner of restrictions which have been placed on the media since the King’s takeover of pretty much of everything be lifted.
The journalists rallying in Kathmandu carried a large banner which read “Total press freedom for peace and democracy.” Addressing the gathering after half-an-hour long silent demonstration, president of FNJ Bishnu Nisthuri said the movement launched by the journalists won’t stop until press freedom and democracy was restored in the country.
Demonstrations were not limited to Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Post reports that in Kavre police interrupted a poetry recital program on press freedom by protesting journalists and arrested 10 journalists. Rallys also occurred in Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Sindhuli, and Bara.
As the rallies were going on the FNJ issued a statement demanding action be taken against two Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) officers for "pressurizing and threatening" Kishore Shrestha, editor of Jana Astha weekly who it says had been threatened for refusing to reveal the source of a news story which the weekly had recently published.
Less then two weeks ago nearly 100 journalists were arrested protesting against the King. At that march police physically assaulted demonstrators. Sources: Peace Journalism, Kantipur On Line, Kathmandu Post, Nepal News, Digital Divide Network
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