Kathmandu : Former office-bearers of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) are set to stage a peaceful sit-in at Maitighar Mandala on Saturday morning, protesting the arrest of journalists following police entry into media houses.
The one-hour protest, scheduled from 8 am to 9 am, will demand the immediate release of the arrested journalists and protection of press freedom.
In a joint statement, the former office-bearers condemned the government’s move to deploy police inside newsroom premises to arrest journalists, describing it as a form of “neo-authoritarianism” and a return to the practices of the royal regime.
They expressed serious concern over the deployment of plainclothes police to arrest Suvedi of Nepal Press from its newsroom in Minbhawan, Baral from an office in Thapagaun, Nawaraj Mainali of Naya Patrika and Sudip Bishwakarma of Diyopost.
They said the state’s resort to repression was unacceptable when legal avenues, including the Press Council and courts, were available to address grievances over published news reports.
The former office-bearers have demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalists and an end to police interference in media houses.
The statement was signed by former FNJ president Govinda Acharya, former senior vice-president Ramesh Bista, former vice-presidents Khil Bahadur Bhandari and Uday GM, former general secretary Roshan Puri, and former general secretaries Poshan KC and Ujir Magar, among other former central office-bearers and members.
Naresh Admits Using a Saw to Dismember and Dispose of Wife Mamata’s Body 
China and Bangladesh Pledge to Stand Together Despite Global Changes 
Foreign Minister Khanal Holds Talks with Indian Foreign Secretary Misri 
Indian Foreign Secretary Arrives in Kathmandu 
Russian Bombing of School Serving as Aid Centre Kills 33 in Ukraine