FNJ tells CAAN to immediately withdraw clarification sought over news published in Annapurna Post

The Federation of Nepali Journalists has warned the Civil Aviation Authority to immediately withdraw the clarification sought over the news published in the Annapurna Post national daily.

The FNJ concluded that asking for clarification in an illegal way is objectionable and against the constitutional concept of press freedom, reads a letter signed by FNJ General Secretary Roshan Puri.

The federation has warned the CAAN to withdraw the clarification asked in an illegal way by respecting the constitutionally-guaranteed rights to expression and press freedom.

Objecting to the news published by AMN outlets, including the Annapurna Post national daily, the CAAN on August 18 had sought clarification from Simrik Air Chairman Capt Rameshwar Thapa, who also chairs the Annapurna Media Network (AMN).

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The authority has been widely criticized for its move to ask for clarification for the news published in the national daily.

The FNJ said that its serious attention has been drawn over the clarification sought by the CAAN over the news published in the Annapurna Post national daily under the Annapurna Media Network among other media outlets.

“There are prevailing provisions and methods for seeking legal remedies if anyone has grievances or is dissatisfied with the news materials published in the media outlets. The responsibility of the news published in any of the media outlets rests on the shoulder of the editor,” the federation said, adding,” It cannot be justifiable from any point of view to ask clarification from a person by the state body who is not in the editorial team by curtailing the editorial freedom.”

The clarification letter states that AMN has repeatedly disseminated news, analyses, and comments that gravely undermine flight safety. The letter further points out that despite Capt Thapa’s role as the head of an airline company responsible for upholding flight safety, he seems to have misused his publishing rights through his media outlet, engaging in misleading and rumor-spreading activities.

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