The Nepal Journalists Association has decided to launch a phased protest programme after the Chhath festival, intensifying its campaign to protect press freedom, freedom of expression and the professional rights of journalists across Nepal. The decision was taken at a meeting of the association's central committee held on Friday at the association's central office, under the chairmanship of President Nirmala Sharma. The association said the protests are aimed at pressing for its demands, which include the protection of press freedom, as reported by Nagarik News and Pradeskhabar.

With the announcement, the organised voice of Nepali journalists has signalled that concerns over the working environment for the media will be pushed into sharper focus in the weeks ahead. By choosing to begin the agitation only after Chhath, the association has also made clear that its campaign will unfold in an organised, staged manner rather than as a single-day event.

Decision Endorsed by the Central Committee

Friday's meeting brought the association's central committee together at its central office, where members deliberated on the situation facing journalists and the wider state of press and expression freedom in the country. The session was chaired by President Nirmala Sharma, and the proposal to move ahead with a phased protest after Chhath was adopted as the association's collective position.

According to the reports, the association framed the forthcoming agitation as a direct means of pressing for its demands. Chief among them is the protection of press freedom, together with the defence of freedom of expression and the professional rights that journalists depend on to carry out their work.

The timing of the decision reflects the rhythm of Nepal's social calendar. Chhath is one of the major festivals celebrated in Nepal, observed with devotion by large sections of the population, and public life and institutional activities slow considerably during the festivities. Scheduling the first phase of the protest after Chhath allows journalists, media houses and the authorities alike to observe the festival before the agitation begins.

A Gradual Escalation of Pressure

Phased protest programmes are a familiar feature of advocacy in Nepal. Rather than announcing a single demonstration, organisations typically launch an agitation that begins modestly and escalates over time, with each stage designed to draw greater attention to unresolved demands. By adopting this approach, the Nepal Journalists Association is signalling that it intends to sustain pressure until its concerns are addressed.

The initial reports did not outline the specific protest events, dates or formats planned for each phase of the programme. The announcement, however, makes clear that the association's central committee has committed the organisation to a course of street-level action once the festival concludes, with further detail expected as the programme is formalised.

Demands: Press Freedom and Journalists' Professional Rights

At the heart of the association's announcement are two interlinked concerns: the protection of press freedom and the safeguarding of journalists' professional rights. Press freedom underpins the ability of reporters, editors and media houses to publish and broadcast without undue interference, while freedom of expression protects the broader space in which citizens exchange ideas and hold those in power to account.

The association's reference to professional rights points to the conditions under which journalists carry out their work. For journalists' organisations, these rights encompass the ability to report, gather news and practise the profession without obstruction, and to work in an environment where their standing as professionals is respected. By bundling these issues together, the association has framed its protest not merely as a sectoral grievance but as a defence of the information environment on which the public relies.

Key points from the announcement:

  • The Nepal Journalists Association will launch phased protests after the Chhath festival.
  • The stated objectives include the protection of press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists' professional rights.
  • The decision was taken by the association's central committee at a meeting on Friday.
  • The meeting was held at the association's central office and was chaired by President Nirmala Sharma.

Watching the Agitation Unfold

The coming days will show how the association converts Friday's decision into a concrete schedule of protest events. As with phased agitations generally, attention will turn to the scale of participation, the response of the authorities and media stakeholders, and whether the announcement opens the door to dialogue with those the association seeks to persuade.

For now, the message from the association's central committee is straightforward. Journalists organised under the Nepal Journalists Association have committed to a sustained campaign after Chhath in defence of press freedom, freedom of expression and their professional rights, and the association has made clear that pressing for these demands is the very purpose of the agitation it is preparing to launch.