The FNJ drew the attention of the prime minister towards non-cooperation and misbehavior towards journalists by the security personnel and the administration itself in Dharan and Mustang.[break]
The Federation also demanded with the prime minister in connection with making the use of e-mail and internet systematic, citing that journalists alone have been victimized with the growing use of fake e-mail in Kailali, Kaski and even in Kathmandu.
The FNJ team also drew the Prime Minister´s attention towards the urgent need of implementing the Working Journalists´ Act and constituting the Advertisement Authority for systematizing the distribution of relief to the families of the conflict-hit journalists and allocation of the public welfare advertisements.
The FNJ, as a partner in the Jana Andolan-2, requested the Prime Minister to take the peace process to a positive conclusion and expedite the constitution writing process by forging consensus among the political parties.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Nepal said through the FNJ his attention was drawn towards the problems faced by the media and that he would take steps towards addressing the problems raised by the Federation by discussing them with the Ministry concerned.
Stating journalism and the media has flourished after the establishment of Loktantra, the Prime Minister said that he was well aware about the press freedom.
The prime minister suggested the FNJ to play a role in putting to an end the impunity in the media sector, saying that those doing good job are not motivated unless the unscrupulous ones are punished.
Every government should protect the journalists who expose the bad practices in society, the prime minister said, adding that it is the journalists who first confront the criminals and mafia elements.
Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel said the killing of journalists for practicing their trade has stopped in the last one and half years.
Earlier, a delegation of the National Network of Nepali Press Media met with the prime minister and called on the government to make arrangements for proportional distribution of the public advertisements, to provide the land for the construction of a building of the Media Centre and to provide tax exemption facilities for the Press.
Safeguarding Press Freedom with Urgency and Conviction