FNJ demands parliamentary probe committee

KATHMANDU, June 12: Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has demanded a parliamentary probe into the attack on journalist Khilanath Dhakal.



Submitting a memorandum to Speaker Subas Nembang on Sunday FNJ said the attempt to murder a journalist is not a minor incident but an attack on the constitutional provision that ensures press freedom and right to expression.[break]



Dhakhal was brutally attacked last week by cadres of Youth Force (YF) of ruling CPN-UML for publishing news exposing their misdeeds.



Responding to the concerns of FNJ representatives, Nembang said he would first talk to chief whips of major political parties and the concerned parliamentary committee over the matter.



The FNJ members also submitted the preliminary report prepared by the federation to Speaker Nembang.



The FNJ report, which was prepared after a field study in Biratnagar, has said the YF´s Morang district chief Parshuram Basnet had masterminded the attack on Dhakal.



Parliamentary committee takes up the issue



The parliament´s Committee on Human Rights and International Relations (CHRIR) has called its meeting for Monday to discuss the issue of attack on journalist Dhakal.



The meeting was called after the speaker suggested to the CHRIR chairman Padam Lal Bishwakarma to take up the issue. "Since the FNJ has demanded a parliamentary probe committee, we may form such a body if our committee endorses the proposal," Bishwakarma told Republica.



FNJ draws UML, NHRC attention



FNJ delegation led by Vice-president Yashoda Timilsina drew the attention of the prime minister´s party, UML, toward the incident. "We urge the CPN-UML to take action against the UML cadres involved in the murder attempt on the journalist and make public the party´s view about press freedom and the right to expression," reads the FNJ memorandum submitted to UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel.



Later, the party leadership instructed UML´s Koshi Zonal Coordination Committee to study the incident and make the facts public. The UML, however, accused mediapersons of unnecessarily dragging the party into controversy.



FNJ also submitted a memorandum to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to draw its attention toward the attack. The NHRC, issuing a statement, said to give political protection to human rights violators is condemnable.



NC demands action



Meanwhile, the national gathering of Nepali Congress (NC) district presidents held in Dhulikhel has denounced the attack on Dhakal and demanded action against the guilty.

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