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VOL. 27, NO. 8, October 05, 2007 (Ashwin 18 2064 B.S.)
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Sinister Moves
The Kantipur Publication becomes the latest victim of Maoists’ tactics to browbeat the free press
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
In an increasingly disturbing development, the pro-Maoist workers have stepped up their action against the Kantipur Publication.
The pro-Maoist union has already obstructed the publishing of two dailies Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post. On Monday, they even threatened to shut down the Kantipur Television as well.
Addressing a meeting of the workers held in front of Kantipur Complex in Minbhawan, 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.
The pro-Maoist workers had resorted to vandalism in the Kantipur Publications complex in Minbhawan and its press in Koteshwore on Sunday (September 30) evening forcing the two popular dailies – Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post – to stay off the news stands for the second time in last one week – September 28 and October 1.
Violating the decision by the Patan Appellate Court, the activists of All Nepal Communication and Printing Publication Workers' Union, which is affiliated with the Maoists, resorted to vandalism causing considerable damage in the press, according to reports. The workers also vandalized a vehicle belonging to managing director Kailash Sirohiya. The workers have been engaged in agitation since last one week.
The Publication management has said that the workers have gone ahead with protests and vandalism despite their willingness to sort out their grievances through negotiation. They have said the action of the workers constitute a grave violation of press freedom.
Reports say police have arrested around half a dozen activists for their involvement in vandalism.
The Publication has said that the union move was aimed at financially crippling the publication and attacking the freedom of press. The Publication had said that although earlier the All Nepal Communication and Printing Publication Workers' Union, which is affiliated with the Maoists, had agreed to sign an agreement reached with the management on September 9; they suddenly backed down and announced agitation by giving an ultimatum of September 25. The workers demanded increased pay and facilities, among others.
On their part, Maoists claim that their party has 'no policy of interfering in press freedom.' "We support press freedom," said CP Gajurel aka Gaurav, a politburo member of the Maoists. Referring to the problem in Kantipur Publication, Gajurel said, "That is an internal matter between the workers and management. They should settle their problems themselves."
Meanwhile, the Editors' Alliance on Monday (October 1) denounced the continued attacks by Maoists. The group of senior editors of Nepal's national newspapers and television said the action amounted to "a serious assault on the freedom of press and the public's right to information".
"The arson attack and serious damage to the printing facility of Kantipur shows that this is a deliberate and systematic assault on press freedom carried out in the guise of a trade union," the Editors' Alliance said in a statement.
The Alliance was formed in July because of what it said was "a sinister pattern of intimidation and threats against journalists by Maoist-affiliated organizations". The publication of The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post were obstructed for more than a week in August by a Maoist-affiliated union which entered the news room to physically threaten journalists. Production at Nepal Samacharpatra , HBC FM, Drishti Weekly were also disturbed.
"We haven't seen such a serious attack on press freedom even during the direct censorship of media after the king's coup in February 2005," the Alliance said.
The Alliance is made up of editors of The Kathmandu Post (Prateek Pradhan), Nepal Samacharpatra, (Pushkar Lal Shrestha), Kantipur (Narayan Wagle), Image Channel (Vijay Panday), The Himalayan Times (Ram Pradhan), Sudheer Sharma (Nepal), Shree Acharya (Annapurna Post), Yubaraj Ghimire (Samaya), Shiva Gaunle ( Himal Khabarpatrika) and Kunda Dixit (Nepali Times).
WFP/UNICEF TO HELP RIOT-VICTIMS
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Nepal will provide urgently needed humanitarian food aid and non-food items to 5,000 people displaced by communal violence across two districts in western Nepal.
WFP has mobilized more than 70 metric tons of food aid following a request by the Government of Nepal to provide emergency humanitarian food assistance to the displaced populations gathering in Kapilbastu and Dang districts while UNICEF will provide tarpaulins, water purification equipment, cooking utensils, hygiene kits and mosquito nets.
"Working in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Nepal Red Cross Society, we are doing our best to rapidly respond to this humanitarian emergency, but the security situation remains tense. WFP food assistance should begin arriving within the next two days as long as the security situation does not worsen," said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Representative in Nepal.
A reported 31 people have been killed, dozens injured or missing and thousands displaced after the death of a prominent local figure sparked days of communal violence in the western Terai region bordering India.
"UNICEF is extremely concerned about children caught up in this new cycle of violence. All schools in the area remain closed and in some instances schools have been razed to the ground depriving children of their fundamental right to education," said Gillian Mellsop UNICEF Representative for Nepal.
"Even more worrying is that children have witnessed or been subjected to terrible acts of violence within their communities, some have been injured and others are reported missing or separated from their families. We call upon all community leaders to end the unrest so that children can begin to recover from this tragic episode," said Mellsop.
Many of the people displaced because of violence and insecurity are from very poor and marginalized communities who have few resources available to cope with the loss of their houses and livelihoods.
"WFP has been able to mobilize only enough funds to provide emergency food aid for one month. At this point, it is uncertain what rehabilitation and reintegration support may be needed, but we remain ready to provide additional humanitarian relief if necessary," said Ragan.
In addition to non food relief items, UNICEF and partners are working to restore educational systems, providing teaching and learning materials, and psycho-social care and support for traumatized children.
Despite UN calls for the Government to provide public security and appeals for calm and tolerance across the diverse communities in the region, some of the affected communities remain volatile. The UN human rights office, OHCHR, continues investigations into the violence and monitoring work of the human rights situation. It is expected that most of the displaced populations, some of whom have fled to India, will return to their homes when the situation calms down, except those whose houses have been completely destroyed.
PRASHANT PERFORMS IN NEPAL
The winner of Indian Idol singing talent hunt show, Prashant Tamang who hails from Nepali-origin community, who arrived in the capital on Friday met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Saturday (September 29) morning.
PM Koirala praised Prashant's talent and said his victory had brought Nepal and India closer. PM also gave him a black Nepali cap. After the meeting, visibly elated Prashant said it was his longtime wish to meet with Koirala. "I was nervous. I just sought blessings," he told reporters waiting outside. Prashata was accompanied by two other Indian Idol contestants Ankita Mishra and Deepali Kishore at the meeting.
On Saturday afternoon, Prashant performed in a packed live concert in St. Xavier's School ground in Jawalakhel. He was accompanied by Ankita, Deepali and Nepali pop-star Neema Rumba.
Each of them sang half a dozen songs. Prashant wowed the audience by singing a number of popular Nepali songs. He profusely thanked his Nepali fans for supporting him throughout his Indian Idol campaign. Thousands of his fans had gathered at the ground despite heavy rainfall. On Sunday, Prashant and the team performed live in Pokhara.
