Media fiat renewed

Kathmandu: The government has renewed the controversial Media Ordinance that was promulgated six months ago. The government published the Ordinance in Nepal Gazette after the King put the royal seal on it on April 3. The Ordinance will be made public on Monday. The provisions in the renewed Ordinance regarding the control of press and provisions prohibiting FM stations from airing news remain unchanged. “This move shows complete neglect of the voices coming from national and international circles regarding the protection of free press and freedom of speech and expression,” FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri, said: “We will not accept the ordinance.” —HNS

Blood donation

KATHMANDU: The Nepal National Dalit Journalists’ Association (NNDJA) on Sunday organised a blood donation programme in Anamnagar, Kathmandu, to help those injured during the ongoing demonstrations. According to NNDJA president Binod Pahadi, 50 persons donated blood on the occasion. — HNS

Money for relief fund

KATHMANDU: Imagine Nepal, a non-government organisation, has contributed Rs 10,000 to Jana Andolan Ghaite Upachar Kosh (Fund for Treatment of Injured in Mass Movement). According to a press statement of the NGO on Sunday, patron of the organisation, Haricharan Pant, put in the sum into the fund handled by the comedian duo of Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya. — HNS

Leaders’ pledge

Lalitpur: Representatives of the seven-party alliance on Sunday vowed to meet the demands of indigenous residents of the Valley and urged all the indigenous people to join the ongoing movement for democracy. In a meeting held by the Nepalbhasha Manka Khala Yala (NMKY), various district-level leaders of the alliance said the parties would, in the future, be more sincere towards addressing the issues of local residents. “The political parties have committed to fulfil our demands,” said Surendra Shakya, secretary of the NMKY. Chandra Maharjan of NC, Pramod Sharma of NC(D), Hari Krishna Shrestha of CPN-UML, Padma Rai of United Peoples’ Front and Bhupendra Nembwang of Bam Morcha Nepal participated in the meet. —HNS