Kathmandu, April 28

Federation of Nepali Journalists today submitted a 16-point letter of attention to Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba separately, urging the leaders to take initiative to ensure free press and freedom of expression in the country.

A delegation led by FNJ President Govinda Acharya had visited Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar and Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha to hand over the letters.

According to FNJ, it was a part of the ongoing pressure campaign. FNJ is launching the campaign against the growing government trend of detaining and sending mediapersons to jail under the Electronic Transactions Act, and on charges of offence against the state.

Upon receiving the letters, Dahal and Deuba expressed their commitment to ensuring press freedom and assured that they would help address the issues raised by journalists. FNJ stated that it would submit the letter of attention to the leaders of all political parties, former prime ministers, speaker of the House of Representatives, chairperson of the National Assembly, rights activists and civil society leaders.

Issues raised by FNJ in its 16-point letter include formulation and implementation of press laws by the federal, provincial and local levels in accordance with the spirit of the constitution and international declarations; put an end to enactment of draconian laws; implementation of National Media Policy with modification; amendment to the anti-press provisions in the Criminal Code Act and Civil Code Act; guarantee of facilities to the working journalists as provisioned by the Working Journalist Act and Working Journalist Rules; and increment in minimum salary of journalists.

FNJ has also demanded that the government recognise Nepali media as a communication service industry and provide facilities accordingly, ensure proportional distribution of government advertisements and grant permission to journalists to enter Singh Durbar with identity cards issued by FNJ. Its other demands include providing monthly subsistence allowance to senior journalists above 60 years of age and journalists with disabilities, scrapping sections 47 and 48 of the Electronic Transactions Act and providing health insurance and life insurance facilities to journalists.

According to section 47, a person, who publishes any prohibited materials in the electronic media to spread hatred or jealously against someone or jeopardise the harmonious relations among people of various castes, tribes and communities, will be slapped a fine of up to Rs 100,000 or an imprisonment for five years, or both. Similarly, section 48 stipulates a provision of punishment with a fine of Rs 10,000 or an imprisonment of two years or both for violation of individual’s rights to privacy.