Kathmandu, October 18:

Participants of a programme organised here today said the rights of working journalists have not been protected by the recent report submitted to the government by the Media Recommendation Commission.

The talk-programme was organised by the Freedom Forum. The participants said they oppose the 49 per cent foreign investment in media, and the provision that only one third of employees to be made permanent among others.

They also pointed out that the working journalists who have been fired have not been able to get compensation even if they won the case as per the act. Press Council Nepal Chairman Rajendra Dahal made commitment to take initiative to look into whether or not the editors and reporters have got the facilities as per the act while classifying the newspapers.

The FNJ President, Bishnu Nishthuri, Advisor to the Ministry of Information and Communications Kul Chandra Wagle, Press Chautari Nepal Chairman Bal Krishna Chapagain, Legal Experts Kashiraj Dahal and Ram Krishna Nirala, and FNJ former President Suresh Acharya called for separate laws for journalism and press. Pradip Ghimire and Bindu Kant Ghimire presented separate working papers. Forum Chairman Taranath Dahal said although the report is good, it has neglected freedom of journalists.