HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

FNJ convention
Quit arms, register party, Speaker tells Maoists

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 13: Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat said that the restoration of peace through constitutional means is the only way out to resolve the problems facing the nation.

Inaugurating the 20th general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists here today the Speaker talked about the Maoists’ new destructive campaign. "We can make conclusion after seeing the destruction and terrorism unleashed by the Maoists that they do not belong to a political party."

He said if the Maoists had even a little bit of concern for the country they must pave the way for new reforms and for peace by handing over arms to the government and following the constitutional path, Speaker Ranabhat said.

Ranabhat called upon the country’s Fourth Estate to make serious analysis of the current situation so as to use the might of pen to find a peaceful outlet of the present impasse.

"For whom are they doing this? The Press must investigate and analyse this fact," Ranabhat said

They must deposit their arms to the government and register their party to the Election Commission. "No interest is served from jungle hideouts, they must seek resolutions from the floor of the Parliament," he added.

If the Maoists fail to realize this fact, everyone will be a loser and the biggest loser will be the nation, he said. "If the situation of hopelessness persists people’s patience could run out precipitating in a new appalling atmosphere."

Expressing happiness over the joint programme launched by the seven political parties, Ranabhat said that if the political parties’ move ahead jointly and in a meaningful way, the Maoists-oppressed people would receive some relief.

The Speaker suggested that the political parties should forge ahead analysing the shortcomings and the achievements made during the past 12 years.

On the first day of the convention, Speaker Ranabhat felicitated senior journalist Chandra Lal Jha with Press Freedom Fighter honour.

At the inaugural function, Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said that the State of Emergency was aimed at the Maoist terrorism. He said the press should not take it as otherwise, he said.

Minister Gupta, also the government spokesman, said that the programmes and security measures launched by the government were going as expected and the government would receive important successful very soon.

He said that lot of tasks had been initiated as per the suggestion of Federation of Nepal Journalists. "The bill on Rights to Information has been tabled in the Parliament, and homework to initiate reforms on Press, publication and national broadcasting acts are also underway. The coming session of the Parliament would make many reforms in the media sector," Gupta said.

He called upon the Press not to become the security shield for the terrorists. No journalist involved in protecting the right of freedom of expression has been jailed, he added. Many speaker, while giving their best wishes to the success of the biennial general meeting, had expressed their concerns about the imprisonment of journalists.

Nepali Congress Spokesman Arjun Narasingh K.C. said that the act of putting restrictions on journalists’ pen would not be tolerable at any cost. "The State of Emergency is aimed at putting an end to the Maoist terrorism," he added.

"Freedom is impossible without democratic system, and democracy should not be abused to provide shelter to the terrorism," K.C. said.

CPN-UML’s Raghuji Pant said that the activities of the Maoists had had serious impact on journalism of the nation. The need of the hour is to save journalist, who are facing much hardship and finding it difficult to keep their professionalism afloat, Pant said.

Nepal Sadbahvana Party’s Muktinath Mandal said that the FNJ’s general meeting would be successful in making effective conclusion over the difficulties faced by the journalists in the recent times.

FNJ President Suresh Acharya and General Secretary Tara Nath Dahal spoke about the existing problems faced by the Nepalese Press.

The inaugural function presided over by FNJ President Acharya. The FNJ General Meeting being participated by 647 representatives across the country will elect new leadership in tomorrow’s election.

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