"We did not allow the printing of the two newspapers from the press here," Ghanashyam Adhikari, chief of the eastern region sub-committee of All Nepal Communications, Printing and Publication Workers´ Union (ANCPPWU) told myrepublica.com over phone from the eastern town. [break]
He reiterated that this will continue until their 12-point demand are fulfilled. The demands include, among other, better pay and benefits. Around 30 union members have camped inside the office complex.
Harsha Subba, chief of Kantipur Publications´ Biratnagar bureau confirmed the development. "Our colleagues in the scanning department in Biratnagar said they were not allowed to receive the copy of the papers sent from Kathmandu," he said from Dharan. The newspapers´ pages are sent over the Internet from the capital and printed in Biratnagar.
Adhikari, meanwhile, also said that they would not travel to Kathmandu for talks even if they are invited to discuss their demands. "The management representatives have to come here." Their current round of protest started Monday.
Kantipur Publications´ management in the capital, according to knowledgeable sources, has said that it would rather shut down the eastern editions but not bow down to "pressure tactics" of the union.
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