IFJ Dismayed as Nepal Police Arrest Journalists in Nepal 1 Protest

 

 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned that police in Nepal arrested 15 journalists participating in a peaceful rally to protest against threats by Nepal 1 Television to enforce mass sackings at its office in Kathmandu.

 

According to the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate, the journalists - including FNJ central committee member Diwakar Bagchand, FNJ Nepal 1 chapter president Rajkumar Regmi and FNJ Bardiya branch president Shreeram Sigdel - were detained outside the Indian Embassy at Lainchaur on August 19. They were released after a short time.

 

The IFJ calls on authorities in Nepal to ensure that Nepal 1 Television abides by its obligations under a 2007 workplace agreement to provide appointment letters to all staff, insurance cover, holiday leave and a provident fund.

 

New Delhi-based Nepal 1 Television threatened mass sackings on July 14 if journalists and media workers at its Kathmandu office continued to campaign for implementation of the agreement. Nepal 1’s management signed the agreement on May 7, 2007, ending a three-week strike by employees demanding implementation of a collective agreement and improved working conditions.

 

According to the FNJ, the signing of the agreement was witnessed by the Labour and Transportation Ministry’s general secretary, Bishnu Lamsal, and the Information and Communication Ministry’s joint-secretary, Narayan Prasad Regmi.

 

“The arrest of journalists peacefully advocating for their right to decent working conditions and job security raises serious concerns about the position of state authorities in relation to an employer under pressure. This kind of intervention is wholly inappropriate and an infringement of the right to freedom of association and expression,” IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

 

“Journalists and staff at Nepal 1 Television achieved a great victory in certifying their workplace agreement in 2007. Nepal 1’s unwillingness to follow through on its commitment shows bad faith and should not be accepted, particularly as the workers’ demands for appointment letters, insurance cover, a provident fund, holiday leave and reimbursement allowances are reasonable and just.”

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

 

The IFJ represents over 600,000 in 122 countries worldwide