Bring out info act or face stir: FNJ prez

Phidim, September 26:

The president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Bishnu Nisthuri, today threatened to launch a revolution if the government failed to come up with acts related to the right to information by implementing recommendations of the High-Level Media Commission within Mangsir.

Speaking at an interaction on ‘Role of media personnel in the present changed political scenario’ organised by the Panchthar chapter of the FNJ here, Nisthuri accused the government of not being committed towards press freedom.

The FNJ president said that the armed forces should not be involved in the media.

Stating that the government is operating a radio, newspapers, a news agency and a television company and Maoists, too, own a radio and a newspaper, Nisthuri said, “The misuse of the media could be more dangerous than arms and ammunitions.”

Saying that the FNJ was agitating for privatization of government-owned media, the FNJ president added, “The Maoists should also stop operating their Republic Radio immediately.”

Nisthuri said that media persons must play a role in making the ongoing peace talks a success by closely watching the events that unfold.

Addressing the programme, district-based leaders of political parties, human rights activists and officials of security agencies urged journalists to keep a close watch on whether or not the agreements and code of conduct signed between the government and the Maoists are being implemented.

They further urged journalists to disseminate news in favour of peace in the country.