Nepal Maoist Execute Reporter

Journalist executed by Maoists

Reporters Without Borders expressed shock and outrage today at the murder of reporter Dekendra Raj Thapa, of the pro-government Radio Nepal, who the pro-Maoist Communist Party of Nepal said it had executed on 11 August, according to a 16 August party leaflet. He had been kidnapped on 26 June and is the second journalist to be killed in Nepal this year.

"We are revolted by this barbaric murder," it said, noting that the party's leader, Pushpan Kamal Dahal (better known as "Comrade Prachanda"), had been put on the Reporters Without Borders worldwide list of 37 "predators of press freedom."

Thap was kidnapped in Dailekh (500 km west of Kathmandu) by Maoist troops who accused him of spying for the government. Among 10 charges against him was one of helping to organise a ceremony to honour King Gyanendra in April. The leaflet, signed by "Comrade Ranajeet," the local party secretary, said he was executed after being found guilty of spying.

Thap was a keen rights activist and had been an adviser to the independent Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES).

The news of his execution came the day after the Maoists released another journalist, Durga Thapa, in the western district of Surkhet, who had also been accused of spying.

Since a ceasefire broke down in August last year, the rebels have plunged the country into new violence, reviving their "people's war" against the monarchy and feudalism and seizing control of more half the country. Last year they killed at least three journalists.

Nepalese journalists are caught between the army and the rebels. Padma Raj Devkota, editor of the fortnightly Bhurichula, was killed by army troops in the western district of Jumla in February.