Nepali journalists marking World Press Freedom Day

KATHMANDU: The World Press Freedom Day is being marked today by organising different programmes across the country.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day is being marked under the slogan of ”Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media’.

On the very occasion, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) organized a morning assembly in the Capital.

A large number of scribes and media activists participated in the morning rally. FNJ Vice-chair Yashoda Timsina, General Secretary Om Sharma, former chairs of the FNJ and others addressed the program.

On the occasion, General Secretary Sharma said that implementation of the working journalists act was still a big deal in Nepal.

A total of 228 anti-press incidents occurred in Nepal during this year (May 3, 2012 to May 2, 2013), stated a press release issued by FNJ Vice-chairperson Yashoda Timsina.

Addressing the corner meeting, former president of FNJ, Homnath Dahal, said that journalists have made unparalleled contribution in support of press freedom, human rights and democracy.

Chairperson of the Sancharika Samuha Nirmala Sharma, FNJ vice president Yasoda Timilsina and general secretary Om Sharma, Kumar Shah of the Revolutionary Journalists´ Association, Madhav Nepal of the Press Chautari Nepal, Shiva Lamsal of the Press Union and Khil Bahadur Bhandari of the Revolutionary Journalists Association, among others, lamented that the State has not paid adequate attention for the protection of journalists and for their professional advancement even long after the establishment of democracy.