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Maoist trade union leader threatens to shut down Kantipur TV

Even as obstruction posed by them has forced Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post dailies to remain off the news stands, the pro-Maoist trade union has threatened to shut down the Kantipur Television as well.

Addressing a meeting of the workers, Shalikram Jamarkattel, the president of All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) –the trade union wing of the Maoists – gave a stern warning against the Kantipur Publications and Kantipur TV.

"You just wait for four more days. We will shut down the television also," said Jamarkattel, who also happens to be an MP at the interim parliament.

"I hope our worker friends do not have to force themselves into this building," he further threatened.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Publications, Hem Raj Gyawali, has drawn the attention of all concerned towards the threats by the pro-Maoist workers.

Earlier in a meeting with the management and journalists of the Publication, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said he will not compromise with anyone on press freedom.

Likewise, president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bishnu Nishthuri said that the Maoist move might be a part of their strategy to close down independent media house.

The Nepal Media Society, an association of editors of dailies, also held a meeting and condemned the obstruction in Kantipur Publication. "This is an attack on all of us," said Mahendra Sherchan, president of the Society.

Various political parties and human rights organisations have condemned the obstruction by pro-Maoist workers. nepalnews.com sd Oct 01 07