NHRC, FNJ: Ging remarks objectionable

KATHMANDU, July 2: The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has said that the comments made by a United Nations (UN) official against the Nepali media over reports on rotten rice distributed by the World Food Program (WFP) are objectionable and undiplomatic.

FNJ President Mahendra Bista said the comments of the UN official are objectionable as they were "accusations intended to veil the fact that WFP distributed rotten rice in several places."

"The comments made by the UN official were not in keeping with diplomatic decorum. His statements just attempted to hide the facts. On behalf of FNJ, we urge the concerned government agencies to take necessary steps regarding his comments," said Bista.Director of Coordination and Response Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) John Ging had slammed Nepali media for its reporting on sub-standard food provided by the WFP to earthquake victims. Ging had said that he was disappointed to see the "nonsense reports" in the media.

Ging, in a tone of veiled threat, had also asked Nepali media to be thankful that WFP gave high priority to Nepal at a time when many other countries, like Syria, Yemen, Congo, Afghanistan and Iraq, are equally in urgent and desperate need of food supplies.

NHRC finds Ging's comments undiplomatic

Commissioners at National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the organization that recommended the government to take necessary action against the WFP, discussed the comments of the UN official on Thursday.

"As we have already recommended the government to take action against the organization, we didn't issue any official statement. However, we discussed the issue seriously. In our discussion, we concluded that Ging's comments were not in keeping with diplomatic decorum," said Mohana Ansari, spokesperson for the commission.

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