15 May, 2020
H.E. (Mr.) Ramon S. Bagatsing, Jr.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
50-N Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi: 110021
Your Excellency Ambassador Ramon S. Bagatsing, Jr,
The National Union of Journalists(India) -NUJ(I) in short is an umbrella organisation of working journalists and is engaged for betterment and causes of journalists in the country since 1972. It has 24 State units covering almost all States of the India having more than 20000 members on its roll in India. It is recognised and affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels, Belgium. The NUJ(I), the largest trade union for the journalists in the country is disturbed by the recent decision of the Philippines’ Congress to delay the renewal of the franchise license of the country’s largest broadcasting network ABS-CBN, forcing the network to shutdown on May 5, 2020.
The network closure has led almost 11,000 people being put out of work at a key time when the provision of information about Covid-19 is a vital service to the Filipino community. In rural areas, ABS-CBN has been the only program available to many homes. President Duterte himself has thanked the network for its essential role during the pandemic.
We are concerned that ABS-CBN has been under constant attack by Duterte administration and fear that the shutdown is yet another attack on press freedom in your country. It is an attack on all Filipinos who rely on the network for news and information. The closure will also put additional financial strain on the families of ABS-CBN workers during the current lockdown.
We note that no satisfactory evidence has been presented for why the Congress has moved slowly to renew the ABS-CBN franchise. President Duterte has not only influenced the delays in the renewal process but has repeatedly threatened and censored the independent media network over the years.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was set to grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN after May 4, while their application for extension was still pending approval from Congress. We are dismayed that Jose Calida, Solicitor General of the Duterte administration issued a warning against NTC, threatening to prosecute the commissioners if they approve the provisional authority. These efforts to undermine the independent media and due process present a clear danger to media freedom and the public’s right to know.
We call on the Duterte Administration to act swiftly to ensure that Congress renews the network’s license and restore ABS-CBN to the air. To do otherwise would harm the Administration’s reputation during this global health crisis.
Yours sincerely,
Ras Bihari (Prasanna Mohanty)
President Secretary General
press News
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रांची। देश भर के पत्रकार आगामी नवंबर माह में रांची में आयोजित राष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन में भाग लेंगे। पत्रकारों का यह सम्मेलन नेशनल यूनियन ऑफ जर्नलिस्ट्स (इंडिया) की राष्ट्रीय परिषद की बैठक के तहत होगा। यह आयोजन आगामी 25 सें 27 नवंबर तक रांची में होगा। झारखंड यूनियन ऑफ जर्नलिस्ट्स का एक दिवसीय सम्मेलन में इसकी तैयारियों पर चर्चा हुई। रांची के दिगंबर
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नई दिल्ली 25 अक्तूबर.वार्ता. नेशनल यूनियन आफ जर्नलिस्ट .इंडिया. ने सरकार द्वारा समाचार पत्रों और समाचार एजेंसियों के पत्रकारों और गैर पत्रकारों के लिए मजीठिया वेतन बोर्ड की सिफारिशों को आज मंजूरी दिए जाने का स्वागत किया है। ... एन यू जे.आई. के अध्यक्ष प्रग्यानंद चौधरी और महासचिव रासबिहारी ने यहां एक बयान में सरकार द्वारा मजीठिया आयोग की सिफारिशों को स्वीकार करने का तो स्वागत
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New Delhi: October 25: The National Union of Journalists (India) today welcomed the Government decision to accept the recommendations of the Justice Majithia Wage Boards on the emoluments of working journalists and non-journalists in the newspapers and news agencies. In a statement, issued in New Delhi today, the NUJ (I) president Prajnananda Ch...oudhury and Secretary General Ras Bihari said they welcome
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New Delhi. In a decision that will benefit more than 40,000 newspaper employees, Union Cabinet today approved the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Boards providing for an increase in the salaries and allowances of journalists and non-journalists. The revised wages will be applicable with effect from July 1, 2010 while the other allowances like Transport, House Rent and Hardship shall be effective from the date of notification of
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केन्द्रीय मंत्रिमंडल ने मंगलवार को समाचार पत्रों एवं संवाद एजेंसियों के पत्रकार एवं गैर पत्रकार कर्मचारियों के वेतनमान में संशोधन संबंधी मजीठिया वेतनबोर्ड की सिफारिशों को मंजूरी दे दी। संशोधित वेतनमान एक जुलाई 2010 से लागू होगा जबकि मकान किराया भत्ता और परिवहन भत्ता सहित अन्य भत्ते अधिसूचना जारी होने के दिन से प्रभावी होंगे। 45 हजार कर्मचारी होंगे लाभांवित प्रधानमंत्री
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NEW DELHI: Press Council chairman Markandey Katju has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting that the electronic media should be brought under its purview and should be given "more teeth". "I have written to the PM that the electronic media should be brought under Press Council and it should be called Media Council and we should be given more
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NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS (INDIA) PRESIDENT SHRI PRAGYANANAD CHAUDHURI (Special Correspondent, Anand Bazar Patrika, Kolkata.) 244/1, B.B.Chatterjee Road, Calcutta: 7000 42 Res.:033-24423408, Off: 033-2374880, 22378000 Mb: 09831159968 Email: Prajnananda.Chaudhuri@abp.in SECRETARY GENERAL SHRI RAS BIHARI (Metro Editor, Naidunia, Delhi.) S-612-B, School
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A law to protect journos is must With rapid expansion of media, pressure on mediapersons too is burgeoning day-by-day. Daily astonishing exposes of corruption and wrongdoings of influential people have escalated the frequency of attacks on journalists by politicians, administrative authorities, police and mafia groups. In fact, mediapersons have been on the target of these forces for long and they skip
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New Delhi, Nov 11.Government today issued the notification for implementation of Majithia Wage Boards‘ recommendations for increase in the salaries and allowances of journalists and non-journalists of newspapers and news agencies. "The Ministry has notified Wage Boards recommendations," a senior Labour ministry official said. The Union Cabinet had on October 25 approved the recommendations which will benefit more than 40,000 employees. The revised wages will be applicable with effect