Rajbiraj, October 27:

President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bishnu Nisthuri said today that the FNJ is drawing up strategies for the security of journalists in view of increasing attacks on press persons. Nisthuri arrived here to take stock of the security of media persons.

In an interaction programme organised by local journalists, Nisthuri said: “The press which has been fighting in the forefront for democracy and freedom is itself facing attacks from all sides.”

He said the FNJ will come up with a plan for the security of journalists.

Speaking about certain journalists, who had fought against regression and the royal regime, but who have now become the “apples of royalists’ eyes”, Nisthuri said: “Discussions must be held at the local level to ensure the security of journalists. The open border with India is encouraging crime. The armed groups operating in parts of the country should also be sensitive to the security and safety of journalists who risk their lives to cover incidents and events.”

Nisthuri also accused the political parties of having forgotten the contribution of the press in the fight and agitation against regression and the royal regime and added that the parties were now silent even in the face of increasing attacks on journalists.

He said that the Maoists’ claim that they had no hand in the abduction of Bara journalist Birendra Shah was political dishonesty and chicanery of the worst kind. He added that it did not behove the CPN-Maoist, which had joined mainstream politics, to instigate or launch attacks on journalists.

FNJ central vice-president Shiv Gaunley collected all the suggestions on security steps given by local journalists. FNJ Saptari president Shambhu Jha chaired the programme. Among those who attended the interaction were FNJ Saptari vice-president Prakash Khatiwada, senior journalist Shiv Hari Prasad Bhattari, editor of Krishna Dainik Murli Prasad Yadav, editor of Jana Aakrosh Dhirendra Prasad Shah and editor of Aaj ko Vatavaran Baidyanath Jha.