Kathmandu, Oct 1, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) – an umbrella organization of journalists of Nepal – has demanded reinstatement of three journalists who were sacked from state-owned Radio Nepal’s Transmission Centre Dipayal. The FNJ had staged an hour sit-in before the federal parliament in New Baneswor, Kathmandu on Sunday calling for justice to the working journalists.
Addressing the sit-in programme, FNJ Chair Govinda Acharya called for immediate reinstatement of the journalists who were dismissed from Radio Nepal Dipayal Transmission Centre and full-fledged enforcement of Working Journalist Act (WJA) in all media. It may be noted that FNJ has started monitoring various media since September 27 to take stock the implementation of WJA and and pile pressure on media house to implement its provisions.
FNJ vice-chair Dilip Thapa Magar said the umbrella organization would be compelled to go for massive protest if the journalists were not reinstated without any condition. “Expelling journalists from Radio Nepal was against the WJA”, he added.
Also speaking on the occasion, Nepal Press Union President Badri Sigdel urged the government to guarantee press freedom along with professional security of working journalists. Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ) Chairperson Danda Gurung and Press Nepal Chair Keshab Aryal, among others demanded the revival of journalists who were meted out injustice at Radio Nepal.
FNJ, Radio Nepal Branch Chair Durga Fuyal expressed its solidarity to the FNJ struggle demanding reinstatement of journalists and stressed to continue struggle till the reinstatement of expelled journalists. Working journalists at Radio Nepal, Prakash Bahadur Bam, Chakra Kunwar and Sunita Rawal were expelled from their job.
