Scribes body slams manhandling of journalists

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists strongly condemned the misbehaviour with and manhandling of journalists by Maoist cadres.

A prominent scribes' body in Nepal on Monday strongly condemned, what they alleged, the "manhandling" by Maoist cadres of journalists covering the government-rebel peace talks here.

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"The Federation of Nepalese Journalists strongly condemns the misbehaviour with and manhandling of journalists by Maoist cadres" outside the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar while the talks were in progress on Sunday, FNJ President Bishnu Nisthuri said in a statement.

The Maoists with red scarfs on their heads obstructed the journalists from collecting news, as they had barricaded the place by making a human chain and even pushed and shoved the national and international mediapersons, the statement said.

The journalists who gathered at the venue were misbehaved with even after they showed their Press Accreditation cards, he alleged adding, this goes against the Maoists' past commitments to honour the freedom of the press.

"The Nepalese press which had protected its rights by fighting against the autocratic regime in the past will not be scared by any other dictators or autocratic rulers in future too," the statement said.