Kathmandu, Mar 3 : The international media mission has urged the Nepal Government to ensure press freedom by shielding journalists and media houses from attacks.

The mission headed by President of the Asia Journalists'' Association (AJA) Sang-Ki Lee here on Monday asked the administration to bring perpetrators to justice.

Expressing concern about the worsening situation of freedom of press Nepal, they urged the government to involve journalists in the Constitution-making process and enshrine press freedom in the new constitution.

The mission said that the Governments must ensure physical and professional security for journalists and enforce the Working Journalists'' Act and the Right to Information Act in letter.

The mission has urged the government to carry out time-bound investigation into the murder of journalists Uma Singh, J. P. Joshi and Birendra Sah, and the whereabouts of missing journalist Prakash Thakuri.

President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Dharmendra Jha said the Government must end the culture of impunity for the free press to thrive.

Kantipur quoted former President of FNJ and AJA-Nepal Chief Bishnu Nisthuri as saying journalists and media institutions were being targeted in the whole of South Asia.

"Press freedom is not just a concern for Nepal; the whole of South Asia should fight for it," Nisthuri added. (ANI)