Christopher Warren, President of the IFJ, on High Level Mission to Nepal

Mr Christopher Warren, President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) will visit Kathmandu between 16th February afternoon and 19th February afternoon.

The IFJ is the international body representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 100 countries worldwide. The IFJ promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice and promotes human rights, democracy and pluralism. The IFJ is the organisation that speaks for journalists within the United Nations system and within the international trade union movement.

The IFJ Mission, led by Christopher Warren will assess the condition of the media and media workers following the Royal Proclamation and the declaration of Emergency on February 1st, 2005.

Mr Warren will hold meetings with senior journalists in Kathmandu. Concerned about the detention of Bishnu Nisthuri, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Mr Warren has sought permission to meet with Bishnu Nisthuri who is being held in detention at the Singhadurbar Ward Police Station.

Mr Warren has also sought an audience with His Majesty the King, and meetings with the Chief of Army Staff, Information and Communications Minister Mr Tanka Dhakal, Home Minister Dan Bahadur Shahi, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Rameshnath Pandey. Mr Warren will also meet with ambassadors, senior diplomats and members of the international community.

For more information, contact:
Laxmi Murthy
Co-ordinator, South Asia
International Federation of Journalists,

Local contact:
Hotel Summit, Room 408
Tel:5524694, 5521073,
Also: 4490063