Biratnagar, July 21:

Protesting the decision made by the Morang chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) yesterday to forgive journalists supportive of the royal regime, the Morang chapters of the Press Chautari and Press Union padlocked the Morang FNJ office today. The lockout would continue for an indefinite period, they said.

“The FNJ Morang meeting yesterday decided to forgive the journalists, who were supporters of the royal regime. The office was locked to protest the decision,” said Mahendra Bista, chairman of the Press Chautari, Morang. According to Bista, some journalists, including member of the FNJ Morang chapter, Bikram Luintel, are against the FNJ decision.

Some members of the FNJ chapter and other journalists were present during the lockout. The Chautari and the Union, issuing a joint statement today, demanded punishment for those who helped suppress the pro-democratic movement.