Monday, June 13 2005 21:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepalese police today (Jun 13, 2005) swooped on a protest rally by journalists demanding press freedom and end to censorship and arrested nearly 100 journalists after scuffling with them.

In defiance of a Government ban on demonstrations, over 500 scribes under the banner of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) tried to march towards a restricted area carrying placards, which read restore press freedom," "end press censorship", "restore democratic freedom," "scrap restrictive press laws", "allow FM radios to broadcast news" etc.

Police intercepted the slogan- shouting demonstrators and bundled them into buses, including the president of FNJ Bishnu Nishthuri.

The agitating journalists briefly scuffled with police before being taken away.

"The Government not only deployed a large number of riot police but also used civil dressed people and unidentified hooligans to suppress the journalists' agitation," said Mahendra Bista, general secretary of FNJ.

"They even misbehaved and attacked us using people in plainclothes," he claimed. Journalists have been holding protests in Nepal, since King Gyanendra seized absolute power and imposed restrictions on the media.

Earlier the agitating journalists held a public meeting at the restricted area in which FNJ president Nishthuri, former Press Council chairman Harihar Birari and FNJ general secretary Bista asked the Government to restore press freedom and withdraw restrictive press laws and provide right to information as guaranteed by the constitution.

Addressing the meeting, Bista said the journalist will intensify their agitation if the Government doesn't fulfill their demands.

"We will shortly announce second round of agitation which will be more widespread and intensified," he said.

The Government last week arrested 52 journalists for organizing a rally demanding press freedom.