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