Kathmandu, Nov 13 - Hundreds of professionals from various walks of life including lawyers, journalists, teachers, doctors, and politicians took out a peaceful demonstration demanding press freedom and revival of democratic process, in Kathmandu on Sunday.
The demonstrators carried placards that read "withdraw the draconian media ordinance," "allow news broadcast on FM radios," "restore civil rights," among others.
The rally, organized by the Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace (CMDP), began from Tripureshwore and passed through major streets before converging into a mass-meeting at Naya Baneshwore.
Addressing the gathering, president of Nepal Bar Association (NBA), Shambhu Thapa said that freedom of expression is a universal right and no one can prevent the people from enjoying it.
Thapa, on the behalf of the NBA urged the rebels [Maoists] to come to the political mainstream by renouncing violence and help restore people's sovereignty in the country.
Musicians and poets presented satirical performances against the government during the programme.
Calling on all to participate in the "people's movement," Bhupati Dhakal, president of Nepal University Teachers' Association (NUTA), said that the government had attempted to shut the people's mouth by banning news broadcast on FM radios.
Various other speakers including Dr. Madhu Ghimire, Arjun Parajuli, and Shyam Shrestha addressed the gathering.
Meanwhile, the CMDP rechristened Naya Baneshwor Chowk as Loktantra Chowk
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