Women journos under pressure to quit job

BIRATNAGAR, Dec 16: Sita Thapa, who works at the news section of Purwanchal FM in Biratnagar, is under pressure from family members to quit her job. The FM is run exclusively by women.[break]



After increasing instances of attack on journalists, family members have been advising Thapa, who came to Biratnagar from Dharan to further her career, to switch over to a different profession.



“I have been telling my family members that despite challenges and insecurity, I am enjoying the profession,” Thapa said.



After Rukum-based journalist Tika Bista was attacked and seriously injured, Radio Nepal´s correspondent Kaushila Dahal, who started journalism three years ago, has also been advised by her family members to quit journalism.



“I wasn´t allowed to leave home for about a week after journalist Uma Singh was murdered. Now, after Tika Bista was attacked, family members are advising me to quit the profession altogether,” she said.




The Women´s Journalists Group for Women´s Rights, of which Dahal is an acting chairman, staged a demonstration in Biratnagar demanding action against those behind the attack on Bista.



“We can explain it to family members if such incidents are rare. But it becomes difficult, when journalists are attacked frequently,” Dahal said.



The Morang chapter of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has documented 15 incidents of violation of press freedom in the past two years.



Shambhu Bhandari, chairman of FNJ Morang, said Biratnagar is not safe for journalists.



“There are very few women in journalism. Such violations can contribute to discourage them further,” he said.



In Morang, women journalists are working both in Biratnagar and in the villages. “After women journalists were attacked for writing news stories, journalists like me are no longer safe,” said Sarita KC, who works for Avenues Television. KC is based in Urlabari. She added that this has led to self-censorship.



Indira Bhattarai, who works for Gorkhapatra, has also been facing pressure from family members to quit the profession.



FNJ mission reaches Rukum



FNJ mission formed to investigate into the attack against Tika Bista reached Rukum on Tuesday. The mission is coordinated by FNJ treasurer Ramesh Bista. Mission members Janak Nepal, Pratap Regmi and Srijana Acharya have started consultations with local journalists who said they were working under a climate of fear.



The mission will meet representatives of political parties, police and civil society. Meanwhile, the police have already taken statements of 21 individuals in connection with the Tika Bista.