INDIGENOUS, ETHNIC FEDERATION ON PROTEST Kathmandu, 3 June: Nepal Indigenous and Ethnic Federation is holding nation-wide awareness Sunday. The Federation will oppose and expose those against a federal structure in protests nation-wide. Indigenous and ethnic politics has swelled in weeks leading up to 27 May when a constitution to regularize a declared republic sold have been proclaimed. But differences between a coalition of Maoists and Samyukta Madeshibari Loktantrik on one side and NC and UML opposed to creation of single ethnic provinces stopped the promulgation. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, instead, ordered fresh elections for a constituent assembly (CA0 for which there’s no constitutional provision raising serious political and constitutional questions. Nepal Women’s Organization affiliated with NC is also anti-government protests as well. Parliament was automatically dissolved with the election call. ‘Without amending the constitution, there can be no election. Going by the interim constitution, those persons after 2063 cannot vote [now 2069], The utility of CA elections has ended. “Just as the CA also did the work of legislature/parliament, now parliament should do the work of a Cam” said former Election Commissioner and Ambassador to United Kingdom Surya Prasad Shrestha. One week after Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai ordered fresh CA elections, new political alignment is merging. NC and UML has already built up an alliance of 19 parties against a government of Maoists and one front of Madeshbadi parties led by MJFL led by its Chairman Bijata Kumar Gachedhar, who is home minister and deputy prime minister. Government is supported also by Janajatis and some Madeshi groups threatening to launch a party ahead of the uncertain 22 November poll. One group of Madeshi parties is supporting with another group led by Upendra Yadav of MJFN opposed to Maoists. MJFL of Gachedhar is heading towards a split with its top leader Sharat Singh Bhandary joining the Yadav front. The government unilateral action fo a vote has threatened splits in major parties, including the NC, over formation of ethnic provinces which many believe will divide the country. nnnn.. FNJ INEFFECTIVE IN DEFENDING JOURNALISTS SAY JOURNALISTS Kathmandu, 3 June: Media workers have voiced dissatisfaction over the ineffective role of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in the fight against attacks and atrocities against journalists during the struggles waged by different ethnic and regional groups some few weeks back, RSS reports from Butwal. Media professionals heavily criticized the FNJ – an umbrella organization of working journalists across the country – for its unsatisfactory role in defending journalists while they were facing the spate of attacks, manhandle and misbehavior in course of reporting. Journalists based in Rupandehi voiced this concern before the FNJ central monitoring team, which is now in Butwal to investigate into the incidents of media attack in the western region. Confidence of perpetrators committing crime against journalists has boosted up due to weak role of FNJ, they urged the federation to make legal action against the guilty of such incidents a key agenda. On the occasion, FNJ general secretary and monitoring team leader Om Sharma termed the attack on media last time during the agitations launched by different groups the ever-biggest in the history. Condemning the barbaric attacks on journalists, Shamra made it clear that the FNJ would come up with appropriate measure to initiate legal action against the guilty. At the programme, FNJ Rupandehi Chapter Chairperson Deepak Gyawali informed that more than a dozen journalists were assaulted and misbehaved in the district during the recent struggles. Speaking on the occasion, FNJ Rupandehi Chapter advisor Suman Adhikari, Vice-chairperson Ramraj Pokharel, journalists including Bharat KC, Dinesh Pandey, Amrita Anmol, Bhawani Pandey, Amrit Giri, Bharat Pradhan criticized FNJ´s failure to defend journalists in the critical time. nnnn ________________________________________ . .