US embassy cable - 04KATHMANDU1643

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001643 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND DS/IP/NEA 
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS HQ 
STATE ALSO PLEASE PASS EU COLLECTIVE 
LONDON FOR POL/GURNEY 
TREASURY FOR GENERAL COUNSEL/DAUFHAUSER AND DAS JZARATE 
TREASURY ALSO FOR OFAC/RNEWCOMB AND TASK FORCE ON TERRORIST 
FINANCING 
JUSTICE FOR OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL/DLAUFMAN 
NSC FOR DORMANDY 
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA ALVERSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PINS, PTER, CASC, PGOV, NP, Maoist Insurgency 
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 
----------------------------------- 
 
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 
------------------------ 
 
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.