Nepalese newspapers ran blank editorials to protest an attack on a prominent news publishing house by a Maoist-affiliated trade union.Reporters and editorial staff members of ‘Himal’ Media, which publishes a number of Nepali newspapers and magazines, were beaten up on Sunday by former members of the Communist Party of Nepal when they stormed into its premises.A group of over 50 people vandalised the property leaving twelve staffers injured in protest warning the media group not to publish stories criticising the Maoists.The attack has come in for strong condemnation by Federation of Nepalese journalists (FNJ) who said the storming of the media premises was "pre-planned, systematic and aimed at eliminating press freedom".Dharmendra Jha, president of the FNJ, said journalists would be compelled to take to the street for another agitation to restore press freedom and democratic principles.Jha said the government was not listening to their 15-point charter of demands, submitted six months back to include the implementation of the Working Journalists Act, guarantying Press freedom and providing security to journalists.Former chairman of Press Council Harihar Birahi likened the Maoists' attack on media as reminiscent of the Press crackdown carried out under the absolute rule by King Gyanendra.He said that the government was trying to shield the culprits involved in beating scribes instead of taking action against them under law. Diplomatic missions in Nepal, including the US embassy and the French embassy have also condemned the attack. "We condemn the attack on Himal Media personnel and facilities as a blatant, illegal assault on freedom of the press in Nepal", the US Embassy said in a statement."It was a criminal act to invade the premises and physically assault the Himal Media staff. The perpetrators of this assault must be held accountable," the statement said. France, which holds the presidency of the European Union (EU), said, "EU is deeply worried by the attack. The use of violence against journalists and the threat to renew such attacks if the media does not 'mend ways' is particularly preoccupying."Issuing a separate statement, the Reporter Sans Border (RSF) said, "the government must guarantee the right of every voice to be heard by punishing violators and by not allowing its supporters to act with the impunity."Meanwhile, the Maoist trade union activists have threatened other two publishing houses of action, if they did not stop writing against the Maoists. The threats were conveyed over phone to Kantipur Publication, which brings out The Kathmandu Post and Himalayan Times, the two leading media groups of the country.
