Himalayan News Service

Pokhara, June 26:

Journalists, human rights workers and activists of various political parties today held a protest rally in Pokhara, demanding restoration of press freedom.

The rally started from the office of the Kaski branch of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and converged into a mass meeting at Mahendrapul.

Addressing the mass, Gangadhar Parajuli, central vice-president of the FNJ, said: “The Press is an essential organ of democracy; so, fundamental rights of the people and press freedom must not be seized.” Rights activist Tek Nath Baral said people should not be deprived of their rights. Raj Bahadur Gurung, vice-president of FNJ’s Kaski branch, said: “People are not obliged to follow the rules of an unconstitutional government.”

Meanwhile, another report from Dhangadhi, said that the FNJ, Kailali branch, today organised a protest rally. The rally converted into a mass meeting at the LN Chowk. The president of Kailali FNJ branch, Karna Shakya, said the agitation will continue. Over two dozen journalists took part in the rally,

carrying banners declaring “Press freedom for peace and democracy.”

A report from Banke said that journalists demanding total press freedom organised a motorcycle rally from Nepalgunj to Kohalpur today. After making a round of the city, the rallyists arrived in Kohalpur via Dhambojhi where the rally turned into a street corner meeting. Over 100 motorcyclists, comprising rights activists, intellectuals and political workers, had participated.