Kathmandu, July 23, 2007

Maoist trade union workers used violence to disrupt the distribution of The Himalayan Times (THT) and the Annapurna Post (AP) for the fifth consecutive day today.

The Nepal Media Society also came up with a joint plan to counter the Maoist atrocities. The Maoist affiliated group disrupted THT and AP publications for the second time today, seizing newspaper copies from the distributors.

The Maoists landed early morning at Sama Printers (printers of THT and AP) at Bhaisepati, Lalitpur, and forcibly took control of the vehicles loaded with newspapers.

The police escorted the vehicles to the main distribution point at Bhugol Park and a clash ensued when the police attempted to recover the newspapers from the delivery boys, who had taken control of the distribution vehicles. The union workers also warned the transporters and distributors against taking delivery of the newspapers.

At Anamnagar, About 50 Maoists surrounded the office buildings of THT and AP and blocked staffers from entering the office from 9 am to 10.45 am. They also threatened to lock the office by 7 pm.

Meanwhile the Nepal Media Society reminded Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Monday about the unabated obstruction on the distribution of the newspapers by the Maoists and asked him why he didn’t do anything when the atrocities are still going on.

Diplomats condemn stifling of two newspapers

The diplomatic community today expressed serious concern about obstructions being created by Maoist-affiliated cycle boys in the delivery of The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post.

The US embassy condemned “attempts to intimidate the private media in Nepal” and said that the problems facing The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post replicated those that hit Kamana publications a few weeks ago. “Intimidation of free media is intimidation against democracy.

In this case, Maoist union-affiliated activities directly undermine claims by their leaders to support democracy and free media,” Sharon Hudson-Dean, the spokesperson at the American embassy here, said.

British ambassador Dr Andrew Hall also said that media houses must be allowed to function without “intimidation and interference.” Dr Hall, who also holds the EU presidency in Nepal, added: “Industrial dispute should be peacefully resolved through normal dispute resolution mechanism, not by forcibly preventing production or distribution.

This harms democracy by denying people the right to information.” “The United Kingdom urges all the concerned to behave responsibly,” a statement issued by Dr Hall said.