Nepal Journalists Protest for Press Freedom in Kathmandu

Nepal Journalists Federation has staged a protest in Kathmandu, demanding protection of press and expression freedom.

The protest, organized by the Nepal Journalists Federation Valley Province Committee and its Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur district chapters, aimed to address the essential demands of the media sector, ensure the security of media houses, and protect citizens’ rights.

Participants in the protest, held at Maitighar in Kathmandu on Saturday, displayed placards with slogans such as ‘Ensure press and expression freedom’, ‘Implement proportional advertising policy immediately’, and ‘Press freedom is not a privilege, it’s a fundamental right’.

Nitu Pandit, vice-president of the federation, expressed disappointment that despite the formation of a strong government, the press sector has not been strengthened and organized as expected. Instead, the government has been trying to control the media under its protection.

Pandit stated that controlling access to information, directly or indirectly threatening and arresting journalists based on their news reports, is unacceptable. He also expressed sadness that no investigation or action has been taken against those responsible for obstructing information and the press by stopping vehicles at the gate of a media house.