Kathmandu, August 25:

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) today launched a week-long protest programmes in support of the agitating journalists at the Kathmandu bureau office of Nepal One TV.

Organising a press conference here today, Govinda Acharya, vice-president of the federation, said the government had failed to implement the 14-point agreement reached between the government and the management of the Nepal One TV on May 7, 2007.

“Since the government could not safeguard the rights of working journalists of Nepal One TV, we are compelled to launch phase-wise protests” Acharya said.

Ramji Dahal, secretary of FNJ, who is also a part of the struggle committee of the television said they would submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indian Embassy and the Cable TV Association of Nepal tomorrow.

He said FNJ chapters in all 75 districts would organise solidarity programmes on August 27 and the FNJ would request Cable Television Association to stop the transmission

of Nepal One from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on August 28.

Likewise, in the leadership of political parties and members of civil society, the FNJ would organise a solidarity programme at Maitighar Mandala on August 29. It would organise sit-in in front of Singha Durbar gate and MoIC on August 30 and 31, respectively.

Acharya further said the FNJ would be compelled to launch a decisive second phase of protests if the government failed to implement the agreement.

More than 70 working journalists of Nepal One TV have shut down the bureau office in Kathmandu since July 15 demanding implementation of the agreement.