NBA to observe Feb 1 as ‘black day’

Kathmandu Jan 29- Two prominent professional organizations Nepal Bar Association (NBA) and the Federation of Nepalese Journalistshave announced to observe February 1 as ‘black day’.

The NBA, the umbrella organization of Nepalese law professionals, today announced to mark February 1 as ‘black day’, saying that people’s rights and the rule of law deteriorated in the country after the February 1 royal move.

Issuing a statement, the NBA directed its 81 units around the country to organise programs as part of marking February 1 as ‘black day’

“We want to observe the day as Black Day in our constitutional and political history and we want that such a day should not repeat in future,” the lawyers’ body in a statement issued today by the general secretary of the NBA, Madhav Banskota.

Mainwhile , Organising a press meet in Kathmandu today, FNJ officials said a national conference has been planned in the capital followed by a demonstration at New Road, a restricted area, in protest against the government curb on the independent press. Journalists from different parts of the country, who have faced arrests and torture form the state, are also scheduled to participate in the conference, they informed.

The FNJ also asked its branch offices in the districts to organise programs to mark February 1 as ‘black day’.

On February 1 last year, King Gyanendra sacked a four-party government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and assumed direct power. Restriction on political rights and press freedom has been tightened since then.