"Maoist trade union chief" (exmonarchist according to prachanda???) warns of future attacks against press

Maoist lawmaker and president All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) Salik Ram Jamarkattel. (File photo)

Chairman of Maoist Trade Union Shalikram Jammarkattel on Friday warned that “Himalmedia episode” may repeat again if the media houses of the country are not serious regarding fulfilling the demands of their workers.

“If their (laborers) rights are not ensured we will bring hundreds of thousands of laborers into the streets,” Jammarkattel thundered at an interaction program organized in the capital. “If the repression (of laborers) continues then episodes like Himalmedia can repeat again.”

He claimed that he and his party – CPN (Maoist) - are “committed towards press freedom”, but said that he will not let any media house owners exploit the workers.

Meanwhile, the siege of Kantipur Publications’ regional office in Biratnagar by Maoist unionist continued for the third straight day on Friday, owing to which Saturday editions of Kantipur and its sister publications the Kathmandu Post could not be printed in the Eastern region.