Kathmandu January 18:

Leaders of several professional organisations today slammed the government for increasing impunity for murders of journalists and ordinary citizens in the country.

Addressing a mass meeting organised today by the Professional Alliance for the Peace and Democracy (PAPAD), Shambhu Thapa, former president of the Nepal Bar Association, said the Constituent Assembly should create an environment to book the murderers of journalists, including the killers of Janakpur-based radio journalist Uma Singh.

Thapa said people would not accept a constitution that promotes the culture of violence and killing and that they want a constitution that ensures the rights of the people in a real sense and maintains rule of law.

President of Nepal Teachers’ Union Keshav Bhattarai accused the government of ridiculing the spirit of democracy and rule of law.

Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi said Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ himself should lead the team to investigate into the murder of journalists.

Rights activist Charan Prasai said the situation would not improve unless the authoritarian

attitude of PM Prachanda’s disciples were disillusioned.

Chop Lal Bhusal, president of Nepal Doctors’ Association, urged all to join the movement for the establishment of a peaceful society. “We presumed that the 2005 movement would be the last one but black clouds are still hovering over us, our freedom, our security and democracy,” he said, adding that everyone should join in another movement against impunity and anarchy.

Demanding an end to impunity and severe legal action against the murderers of journalists, including Uma Singh, the PAPAD today organised a protest rally that began from Bhrikuti Mandap and went through Bhadrakali, Shaheedgate, Sundhara and New Road before converging into a mass meet at Basantapur.