FNJ announces protest against 'black ordinance'

Kathmandu, Oct 16-The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella organisation of all journalists in Nepal, has said it is preparing to launch various protests against what it calls the draconian media ordinance issued by King Gyanendra last week.

The FNJ in a statement on Sunday announced that it would head its movement against the ‘black ordinance’ legally as well as through media campaign and street protests.

As part of the preparations for its fight against the restrictive press laws, the Federation is organising an interaction with law experts on Monday while similar interactions will be conducted in districts on Wednesday and Thursday involving media persons, civil society representatives and human rights activists.

The Federation said it is preparing to move the Supreme Court against the new restrictions imposed on the free press.

Similarly, the FNJ has also decided to carry out nationwide demonstrations in protest against the media ordinance on October 21. According to the statement, the movement against the new curbs would continue unless they are repealed.

King Gyanendra promulgated the new media ordinance - at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on October 9.

Including national and international media rights groups, major political parties of Nepal and the Indian government have also denounced the new restrictions on the media.

mainwhile,The Federation of Nepalese Journalists has decided to move the Supreme Court against the newly introduced media ordinance. Issuing a press statement sunday, the umbrella organization of Nepali journalists said that it will take out a nation-wide protest rally against the 'black ordinance' on Friday.

The protest rally in Kathmandu would begin from New Baneshwor at 3 p.m. The FNJ also decided to hold a broad interaction with legal experts on Monday to discuss the strategies to initiate legal fight against the ordinance.