LONDON, Jan 10: The umbrella organization of Nepali journalists in the UK, the Nepal Journalists Association, has been urged to promptly arrange a date for a fresh general convention by settling disputes over membership distribution and the election procedures.
Members of the UK branch of the Nepal Journalists Association have called for a new date for the postponed convention, as per the circular issued on June 5, 2024.
Dinesh Pariyar, the coordinator of the Convention Preparation Committee of the Nepal Journalists Association UK, has urged FNJ Chairperson Nirmala Sharma, through an official letter, to set a date for the convention and send central representatives of the newly elected FNJ executive committee.
Earlier, the Nepal Journalists Association had announced through a letter on December 5, 2024, that the date for a new general convention would be set to prevent activities contrary to the organization's statutes in the name of the UK branch (FNJ UK), following the postponement of its sixth convention.
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The Nepal Journalists Association has been embroiled in disputes as journalists in the UK remain divided over whether to proceed with the convention as per the association's letter. Dinesh Pariyar stated that the convention scheduled for July was postponed according to the directive from the Nepal Journalists Association.
He further mentioned that a list of 59 members, prepared to resolve the membership-related disputes within the Nepal Journalists Association UK branch, has been registered at the central office of the Nepal Journalists Association.
Bipin Neupane, President of the Nepal Press Union UK, stated that rejecting 100% of the membership applications for the Nepal Journalists Association UK branch and proceeding with the convention is illegal and unjust. He demanded that membership distribution in the branch should align with the prior agreement made between the Nepal Press Union UK and the former executive committee of the Nepal Journalists Association UK branch.
He also called for an investigation into the widespread irregularities in membership distribution within the branch last June and urged the immediate scheduling of the 6th convention of the Nepal Journalists Association UK branch.
Shyam Luintel, former Senior Vice President of the Nepal Journalists Association UK, stated that the discrimination in membership distribution within the branch, established to organize Nepali journalists in the UK, has raised questions about its purpose. He emphasized that the convention should only take place after initiating a new membership distribution process and bringing all Nepali journalists under the umbrella of the association. He urged including active journalists in the UK while distributing membership.
Luitel also cautioned the Nepali community in the UK to be wary of the so-called convention, which resulted in a fake executive committee and its associated photo sessions and ceremonial honors.
In June, 65 people applied for membership in the Nepal Journalists Association UK branch. However, the former chairperson Dhruva Aryal’s group has been accused of unilaterally distributing memberships. The process became more complicated after the applications of 27 applicants were rejected and their fees were confiscated.
