A meeting of the Central Committee members available in Kathmandu also condemned the government for not arresting Parshuram Basnet, an accused, for legal action.[break]
FNJ also demanded immediate arrest of Basnet, who is accused of planning brutal attack on Dhakal two weeks ago.
“FNJ strongly urges Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to fulfill their commitment of action against the assailants and also for the concrete step to end impunity,” a release issued by FNJ said.
The second-phase of FNJ’s protest program include requesting newspapers, television, online media and radio to publish/broadcast PSAs condemning the attack and demanding end of impunity; holding discussion with Nepal Bar Association for legal support on the case; and sending protest letters to the government through Embassies abroad by FNJ foreign branches.
FNJ will also hold interaction with organizations related to journalism and journalists; discuss on frequent attacks on media with attorney general; holding interaction with human rights organizations and civil society; and interacting with bloggers and online journalists.
FNJ will also send lanterns to government through Chief District Officers ‘to help locate criminals’; hold discussion nationwide on Freedom of Expression and civil rights and will blow horns at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu and in front of District Administration Offices in districts on July 1.
Punish journo´s attackers: Parties
The leaders of three major political parties in Sunsari have urged the government to take action against the mastermind of the attack on Khilanath Dhakal.
The district head of the parties said so as Sunsari branch of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) submitted memorandum to the parties at the start of its 10-day protest program Sunday.
UCPN (Maoist) leader Ratna Prasad Guragain warned the political parties against protecting criminals.
Nepali Congress Sunsari Chairman Rajeev Koirala said the parties would themselves be encouraging impunity if the attackers go unpunished. Similarly CPN-UML leader Rewati Raman Bhandari said no one can escape punishment if found guilty.
FNJ, Morang to boycott govt news
FNJ Morang on Sunday has announced stringent protests, including hunger strike, against the government´s reluctance in arresting the mastermind of the attack on Dhakal.
The FNJ, Morang initiated Facebook campaign on Saturday and has scheduled to hold whistle-blowing rally and SMS campaign in which a large chain of similar SMSes would be sent to the prime minister, home minister and information and communications minister on Monday.
Similarly, it will start a three-day relay hunger-strike from eight in the morning to six in the evening in front of the District Administration Office (DAO), Morang starting from Tuesday, and hand over a corrective glass and a photo of the Parshuram Basnet, who masterminded the attack, to chief district officer on Wednesday. Morang FNJ will also organize a massive rally on Friday, Treasurer of Morang FNJ Navaraj Kattel said.
Meanwhile, the FNJ, Morang also deplored Youth Association (YAN) Nepal Chairman Mahesh Basnet for threatening in public that YAN would frame FNJ, Morang Chairman Bikram Niraula, on trumped up charges. The meeting also decided to boycott news of Mahesh Basnet until he apologizes for his remarks and hands Parshuram Basnet over to the authorities.
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