KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Media Alliance Nepal (MAN) has expressed serious objection to the lockout imposed at Nepal Republic Media under the leadership of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ).
MAN issued the statement after the FNJ launched protest programmes, including a lockout, at Nepal Republic Media on Wednesday. In its statement, MAN said the lockout incident had drawn its serious attention.
Beyond the object on display
In the statement, MAN said such actions by a responsible organisation violate prevailing laws and constitutional provisions, and made it clear that any act directly obstructing the publication of newspapers is unacceptable.
“The lockout imposed at Nepal Republic Media by a responsible organisation like the Federation of Nepali Journalists has drawn the serious attention of Media Alliance Nepal,” the statement said.
The Alliance noted that mutual dialogue is the most appropriate means to resolve disputes and problems, warning that activities carried out with the intent of creating pressure could harm media houses, operators–publishers, and the institution’s reputation. It also stressed that the final resolution of any dispute must follow due legal process.
Media Alliance Nepal made its position public after a lockout was imposed at Nepal Republic Media, the publisher of Nagarik Daily and Republica Daily, under the leadership of the FNJ.
Similarly, condemning the lockout, other national dailies across the country have also given the incident prominent coverage.
