International participation in the Global Day of Action for Press Freedom in Nepal
Journalists and rights organisations across the globe showed their support for press freedom in Nepal yesterday in a range of protest actions.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) the global organization representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries, joined members of the Nepalese media and international community in condemning King Gyanendra's oppression of the media in Nepal.
Journalists from Taiwan, Japan, Italy, Indonesia, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Germany, Norway, UK, Hong Kong, Portugal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan took action to pressure the Nepalese government and King Gyanendra to restore press freedom.
Peaceful protests lead by journalists and other professionals across Nepal called for "complete press freedom for peace and democracy".
The protest received strong coverage in reports by Nepalese newspapers, including Kantipur Dainik, Rajdhani Dainik, Nepal Samacharpatra, The Himalayan Times, The Kathmandu Post and Annapurna Post.
In India, officials were presented with letters of protest, and a memorandum supporting Nepalese journalists was handed over to the Deputy Chief of Mission, Pradeep Khatiwada by journalists at the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi. Pakistani journalists also wrote a memorandum.
In Norway and Portugal, journalists created awareness by posting information online about the abuse of press rights in Nepal, while in Hong Kong journalists showed their support by printing protest t-shirts.
Other organsiations, including the Human Rights House, Reporters Without Borders and the International Commission of Jurists, also supported the protest.
The Petition for Press Freedom in Nepal has collected numerous international signatures and will be presented to the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
"It is has been made clear that the international community will not tolerate the current climate of fear, violence and oppression forced upon journalists in Nepal, " said IFJ President Christopher Warren.
"Journalists across the globe have shown strength and solidarity in their demand for the Nepalese government to put an end to attacks on press freedom," said the IFJ President.
Since the royal coup, many print and broadcast media organisations have been shut down or forced to work under strict censorship. Nepalese journalists are subject to torture, beatings, abductions and arrests on a daily basis in a bid to silence critical media reports.
The IFJ condemns these actions against the media and demands the restoration of free speech and assurance of journalists' safety. For more information on the crisis in Nepal see www.ifj-asia.org/nepalcrisis.html
For further information contact Christopher Warren no +61 411 757 668
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
