A group of journalists today called on the chief of the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal to play a pro-active in protecting Nepali media from various government offenses.
In a memorandum handed over to Ian Martin, the journalists said they feared that in the aftermath the Supreme Court’s decision yesterday in relation to the media ordinance, the journalists feared an increase in repressive steps against the media.
"Nepali media and media professionals are in danger now. We feel the United Nations needs to play a pro-active role to protect the Nepali media community from the repressive steps of this autocratic regime," the memorandum said.
"The midnight raid on Kantipur FM last month has made it clear that the government will resort to similar attacks in the near future against independent media institutions around the country. Properties of some five dozen independent radio stations and hundreds of newspapers could face similar attacks from the state any time," the memorandum said.
The Journalists urged Martin to make the international community aware of what they labeled imminent threats’ to Nepali media and to take urgent steps "to stop the autocratic government from launching fresh crackdown on the media."
"We would like to reiterate our commitment to press freedom and freedom of expression in the country once again and express our strong belief that Nepalese people are ready to make all type of sacrifice as the situation may warrant to protect their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the country's constitution and international human rights treaties to which Nepal is a party," the memorandum said.
President of FNJ Bishnu Nisthuri, coordinator of Save Independent Radio Movement Raghu Mainali, managing director of Media Services International Hem Bahadur Bista, coordinator of weekly and fortnightly newspapers' network Kabir Rana, former president of FNJ Suresh Acharya were present on the occasion.
