The Nepal Journalists' Federation has appealed to the world media to mobilise public opinion against the total press censorship in Nepal.

The federation has expressed concern over the fate of over 1,000 journalists who were laid off after King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency on February 1.

Jhalak Gaire, vice-president of the unit, and general secretary Jai Narain Saha signed the appeal. It stated, "The world media must help us make the monarchy see reason that media censorship would be detrimental to the cause of establishment of a democratic government, which even the monarchy promises to ultimately restore."

The appeal stated that even though the king had said that human rights would be observed, his official functionaries were violating them. It cited the arrest of two senior journalists of Daang as a violation of human rights.

A rights activist from the US said on condition of anonymity: "We have noticed that local officials cared little about human rights while dealing with the civilians."

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