HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

Speakers at an interaction today condemned the obstructions in newspaper printing and distribution created by CPN-Maoist -aligned All Nepal Revolutionary Press and Publication Union in Kantipur Publications and urged the concerned party to resolve all the issues amicably through dialogue.

Speaking at Reporters’ Club, Mahendra Bista, President, Federation of Nepali Journalists, said even if the demands of the workers of the publications are genuine, obstructions in newspaper printing and distribution could not be justified. He also said Working Journalists Act and Rules must be implemented. “Such protests must be withdrawn,” Bista said. He also called for the trade union to resolve the problem through dialogue.

Murari Kumar Sharma, former chairman of Nepal Press Union, asked publishers to ‘stop business if they cannot provide remunerations to journalists and employees’. However, he said creating obstacles in distribution of newspapers is not a way to protest. “Problems should be brought to the table and resolved through talks,” he added.

Madhav Nepal, General Secretary, Press Chautari, called for addressing genuine demands of workers and stressed on dialogue between media entrepreneurs, government and agitators.

Govinda Acharya, Chairman of Revolutionary Journalists Association, however, said though workers’ demands were genuine, their way of protest was not. “Workers have the right to stop working as part of their protest, but they cannot create hurdles,” he added.

Dipak Mainali, Vice-chairman of Federation of Revolutionary Journalists affiliated to CPN-Maoist, however, said distribution of newspapers must resume by addressing workers’ demands. Issuing a press release, the Nepal Bar Association also called on the agitating party to not create obstructions in printing and distribution of newspapers, as such acts ‘pose great threat to people’s right to be informed’.

The CPN-Maoist-affiliated trade union for the last few days have been creating obstructions in printing and distribution of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post published by Kantipur Publications.

Let media operate freely: Deuba

KATHMANDU: Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has flayed what he called premeditated obstruction in the distribution of newspapers published by Kantipur Publications. Issuing a statement on Monday, the former prime minister said causing obstruction in the distribution of newspapers has made a mockery of press freedom. The media should be allowed to operate freely, he said. “Causing obstructions in distribution of newspapers is violation of human rights and the inherent right of the people to be well-informed,” he added, urging the agitating party to resolve issues through dialogue. Similarly, Rastriya Prajatantra Party has also condemned the obstructions in distribution of newspapers. — RSS

Published on: 26 August 2014 | The Himalayan Times