NEPAL: MAOIST MURDER JOURNALIST AND THREATEN OTHERS

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SUBJECT: NEPAL: MAOIST MURDER JOURNALIST AND THREATEN OTHERS

MAOISTS ASSASSINATE JOURNALIST-CUM HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
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1. The Maoists announced on August 16 that they had killed
journalist-cum-human rights activist, Dekendra Raj Thapa for
allegedly spying for the security forces against the
insurgents. Thapa was abducted on June 26 in the mid-
western district of Dailekh. He was a reporter of the state-
owned Radio Nepal and also an advisor to the Human Rights
and Peace Society (HURPES),a local NGO. The Maoists have
killed six journalists during the nine-year-old insurgency.
Following the assassination of Thapa, the Maoists have
issued death threats against nine other journalists,
including two journalists associated with The Kathmandu
Post. According to the news coordinator of The Kathmandu
Post, all nine journalists are from Dailekh District.
Maoists have accused them of helping the security forces and
writing against Maoist activities.

JOURNALIST THAPA'S MURDER CONDEMNED
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2. The killing of Thapa by the Maoists has drawn nationwide
condemnation. Ten organizations, including the Federation
of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and human rights
organizations, have denounced and condemned the rebels for
murdering Thapa. A joint press release issued by these
organizations on August 17 stated- "it has become more clear
with the killing of journalist Thapa, a creative and
professional journalist committed to his vocation, that the
Maoists are involved in irrational, inhuman and terrorist
activities to the level of physically finishing off any side
advocating an independent press, protection of human rights
and speaking the people's voice." The FNJ and the human
rights organizations have also sought the Maoists' immediate
commitment to guarantee freedom of the press and fundamental
human rights.

MAOIST BAN ON JOURNALISTS
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3. The Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) reportedly has banned
journalists from entering rural areas, saying they are not
registered with the Maoists' administration. One of the FNJ
members based in Nepalgunj, a main town in mid-western
region of Nepal, quoted a Maoist leader as saying that
journalists not registered with the local Maoists
administration were prohibited from reporting from those
areas.

Comment
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4. The recent killing of a journalist and human rights
activist clearly signals that the Maoists are bent upon
silencing those who speak against their atrocities. The
assassination will obviously undermine the attempt by the
central leaders of the Maoists to present their party as a
political force fighting for the cause of common Nepalese.