At the moment, it is very crucial for all media organizations of Nepal to stay together. Maoists affiliated association has formed unions in Kantipur and APKA publication house already.
They are trying to hold control on all the media houses so that they can make all the media organizations their mouth piece with guns pointed to their head.
I admire the guts of Kamana Publishing House to stand for freedom of press, not letting Maoists form their association.
If media houses do not stay as one, each one will fall like dominoes.
http://newsofnepal.com/kps/index_new.php
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=113318
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2007/jun/jun21/news01.php
http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=707
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nepali/news/story/2007/06/070620_samachar_patra.shtml
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=378135&sid=SAS
Press Release - 19th June 2007
To all Concerned Press Freedom Related Organizations
Today the distributors associated with Customers Solutions Pvt. Ltd,
distribution contractor of Kamana Publication. padlocked the publication
and distribution of "Nepal Samacharpatra National Daily" in the central
district of Kathmandu. These distributors are associated with Maoists
affiliated Nepal Publication and Communication Labour Association. They
started the strike after making several unrealistic demands to the
publication.
Similarly, they also stopped the publication of Mahanagar Evening Daily
and since morning they have been obstructing the day to day operation of
the publication due to the sit-in at the central publication house.
We feel that this is attack to the Independent Press. Nepal
Samacharpatra National Daily has always been defender of free, fair and
independent press in Nepal. We have time and again tried to resolve the
issue through dialogue but the Maoists affiliated Nepal Publication and
Communication Labour Association has never been serious in resolving the
issue rather they have time and again creating obstruction on our day to
day operation. They had already stopped the publication of Nepal
Samacharpatra National Daily on 25th May 2007 and time and again they have
been creating obstruction in distribution of our publications.
In addition to that, they have been continuously threatening to our
Executive Chairman and Editor-in-chief Mr. Pushkar Lal Shrestha & Manager
Mr. Kailash Pradhan. So we seriously doubt this move of Maoists affiliated
Trade Union as mission to control the independent press through the
instrument of the Trade Union.
We request government and all concerned press freedom related
organizations to ensure safety and security of all our staff and strongly
demand for fearless environment for day to day operation of our
publication.
Thanking You
The Management
Kamana Publication Pvt. Ltd.
Soltimode, Kathmand
Nepal
Tel: 00977 1 4287777
Email:samacharpatra@yahoo.com