The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN condemns the murder of Birendra Shah, a freelance journalist, whose body was found on 8 November 2007 after being kidnapped by Maoist cadres on 5 October 2007. Maoist authorities issued a statement on 5 November confirming that members of their party were responsible for Shah’s death, and that he had been murdered on the day of his abduction.
According to PEN’s information, Birendra Shah, a freelance journalist who worked for the publication Dristri Weekly as well as the privately owned Nepal FM Radio and Avenues TV, was abducted on 5 October 2007 by local Maoist cadres in the Bara district, south of Kathmandu. Following widespread protests at Shah’s disapprearance by Nepali journalists, which were violently suppressed by the authorities, the CPN-Maoist party conducted an internal investigation into the kidnapping. On 5 November 2007 Maoist party leaders held a press conference at which they confirmed that Birendra Shah had been killed by their members on the day he went missing. The CPN-Maoist statement named a senior cadre, Lal Bahadur Chaudhary, and two associates, who are said to be personally responsible for Shah’s abduction and murder. Shah had gone with another journalist to investigate a report on timber smuggling when he was abducted, and had recently published critical reports about local Maoists. He is said to have been targeted because of ‘personal disputes’ with Chaudhary, who has reportedly fled to India to avoid arrest. The CPN-Maoist has distanced itself from the murder, and states that the three cadres have been expelled from the party and will now face disciplinary action. The government of Nepal has not yet responded to the CPN-Maoist statement.
After a ten-year long insurgency, a peace agreement was reached by the government of Nepal and the CPN-Maoist party in November 2006, in which both sides agreed to respect press freedom. However, in recent weeks this fragile peace process appears to be deteriorating, tension between the army and the Maoists is growing and reports of attacks on journalists and media outlets have been escalating.
International PEN expresses renewed concerns that journalists and writers continue to be targeted with apparent impunity in Nepal, and urges the authorities to take immediate action to ensure all crimes against journalists are vigorously investigated and those responsible brought to justice. PEN also reminds the Nepali authorities and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-Maoist) of their commitment to press freedom, as laid out by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nepal is a signatory.
Please send appeals:
Condemning the killing of journalist Birendra Shah and calling for his killers to be brought to justice;
Expressing renewed concern for the safety of journalists and writers in Nepal, and calling on the Nepali authorities to take all necessary measures to protect journalists who are being targeted with apparent impunity solely for their reporting.
Appeals to:
His Majesty the King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
C/O The Chief of Protocol Division
Dr. Rambhakta P.B.Thakur
Protocol Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Shital Niwas
Kathmandu, Nepal Fax (C/O the Foreign Ministry): 011 977 1 4423951 / 4416016 Salutation: Your Majesty Minister of Information and Communication Rt.Hon. Krishna B. Mahara Ministry of Information and Communication Singha Durbar Kathmandu Nepal. Fax: +977 1 4261979 or +977 1 4221729 or +977 1 4227310 Email: moicppme@ntc.net.np and moichmg@ntc.net.np
Salutation:
Dear Minister Minister Rt.Hon. K.P. Sitaula Minister of Home Affairs Singha Durbar Kathmandu, Nepal Fax: 011 977 1 4211 232 Email: homehmg@wlink.com.np Salutation: Dear
Minister Minister Niranjan Thapa
Minister of Law,
Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Singha Durbar Kathmandu, Nepal Fax: 011 977 1 4220 684 (please keep trying) Salutation: Dear Minister
For further details contact Cathy McCann, 50/51 Brownlow House, High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: + (0) 20 7405 0339. Email: Cathy.McCann@internationalpen.org.uk
**Please contact the WiPC office if sending appeals after 15 December 2007**
