NPU urges government to ensure safe environment for journalists

Kathmandu–Nepal Press Union (NPU) has said its serious attention has been drawn to the B&C Hospital Birtamod, Jhapa director Durga Prasain’s threatening and slandering, over phone, NPU Ilam district president and Kantipur national daily reporter Biplav Bhattarai and other journalists in the district.

 
A press release undersigned by NPU general secretary Ajaya Babu Shiwakoti and issued today states that Prasain abused Bhattarai and other journalists when they tried to confirm with him on the phone that one Chaitanya Mainali was going to Ilam to meet with Dr Govinda KC. 

Senior orthopaedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Dr KC, is on a fast-onto-death in Ilam, protesting some provisions in the National Medical Education Bill. 

“Do whatever you can, nothing will happen because of you guys,” the NPU press release quoted Prasain as telling in a threatening voice the journalists contacting him to confirm Mainali’s visit to Ilam. The NPU concluded that Prasain’s this kind of response to journalists is tantamount to disrespect of the Press as such. 

Prasain’s this abusive expression despite there being room for legal redress if he had reservations to any published news related to his institution is a challenge to the entire Press. The NPU stated in its press release, calling on the government to take action against Prasain for showing such unbecoming behavior. 

The NPU also demanded the government to create environment wherein journalists can collect and disseminate news unrestricted and without any fear as well as to ensure physical safety of journalists. 
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