Nepal political parties vow to keep press free

Kathmandu, Dec 30 (ANI): All 25 political parties in the Nepal Constituent Assembly (CA) have made a commitment to press freedom and asked the CPN (Maoist) not to use intimidation and violence to press its demands in future.

Speaking at an interaction at the Parliamentary Secretariat, the leaders also urged Maoists to come up with a clear-cut policy on press freedom.

Maoist Central Committee member Barsa Man Pun said Maoist unionists made mistakes by attacking Himalmedia. The attack on Himalmedia was against his party's policy.

Members of other political parties insisted that Maoists are good at making commitments but poor on delivery. In view of the party's poor track record, the leaders urged Maoists to come up with a clear-cut policy on the press.

Nepali Congress youth leader Gagan thapa said press freedom is not a thing to be curtailed by other issues. He demanded that Maoists make public their official position on press freedom.

UML senior leader Pradeep Gyawali expressed concern over the series of attacks on the press.

Leader of Janashakti Party, Prakash Chandra Lohani said all sections of society should raise their voice against the series of attacks on press freedom.

Editor of Himal Southasian, Kanakmani Dixit stressed the need for tolerance.

"The media sometimes may bring even unpopular opinions to the market, which may take time to prove true," Kantipur quoted him as saying.

Earlier this month, the Maoist affiliated All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers'' Union had attacked the staff of the Himalmedia, inflicting injuries to the journalists and vandalising the office. (ANI)