Journalists’ demand on smooth distribution of Kantipur publication

Kathmandu, August 25. Various journalists’ organization’s representative  including the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Nepal Press Union, Press Chautari Nepal, Revolutionary Journalists Association, Revolutionary Journalists Federation and Reporters’ Club Nepal have demanded on smooth distribution of Kantipur publications.

Journalist leaders FNJ President Dr. Mahendra Bista, Nepal Press Union former president Murari Kumar Sharma, Press Chautari Nepal’s General Secretary Madhav Nepal, Reporters’ Club Nepal’s president Rishi Dhamala, Revoluitionary Journalists Association Govinda Acharya and Revolutionary Journalists Federation Vice-President Deepak Mainali have called for end of the obstructions on distribution of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies by a CPN-Maoist-affiliated trade union.

Speaking at the interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club on Monday, FNJ president Dr. Mahendra Bista has condemned the on-going protests by All Nepal Revolutionary Trade Union in the Kantipur Publications. Bista has said obstructing distribution of newspapers to put forward their demands is not acceptable. “Their style is anarchic,” Bista commented, “The obstruction should immediately stop.”

Bista also criticised media entreprenuers’ move to forward their own demands in the time of crisis instead of calling the agitating union for talks.

While criticising the obstruction on distribution of newspaers, former President of Nepal Press Union, Murari Kumar Sharma, however, said their demands are genuine. Sharma further added that “If any publication cannot pay workers, it should close the house,” .He suggested holding a three-party talks including agitating union, media owners and the government.

Similarly General Secretary of Press Chautari Nepal, Madhav Nepal, also supported Sharma’s suggestion. He demanded to stop on-going protest programmes of both trade union and media entrepreneurs.

Chairman of the Reporters’ Club Nepal Rishi Dhamala has also suggested to make the good environment for the publications distribution. Dhamala added, -” Reporters’ Club Nepal always stand in favor of democracy, peace and press freedom. We are in favor of press freedom. ”

Likewise, Chairman of Revolutionary Journalists Association Govinda Acharya has blamed that the demands of the  on-going protests by All Nepal Revolutionary Trade Union in the Kantipur Publications are justifiable but their ways of protesting is unfair. Acharya said, It seems that the agitating groups would like to make their publicity. ”

Vice-Chairman of Revolutionary Journalists Federation Deepak Mainali had also suggested solving the issue through dialogues.