Kathmandu, April 17
Federation of Nepali Journalists has announced protests demanding the release of journalist Arjun Giri who was arrested on Monday in Pokhara.
As part of its protest, FNJ will demand that Article 47 and 48 of the Electronic Transaction Act, which has been used to arrest Nepali journalist on a regular basis, be scrapped.
“The government has been regularly arresting journalists citing the Electronic Transaction Act which has hindered press freedom,” said FNJ’s General Secretary Ramesh Bista.
FNJ will sit-in in front of all District Administration Offices from 9:30 am to 10:30 am on Thursday. Members will also submit a memorandum to the Home Affairs and Communication Ministries asking them to release Giri immediately.
Bista added that FNJ’s Central Committee will decide on its further agitation programs on Thursday.
Giri, the editor of Pokhara-based Tandav Weekly, was arrested on the charge of violating the Electronic Transaction Act. A local businessman filed a defamation case against Giri after the weekly published news on Batas’ involvement in a land-fraud case recently.
