UNESCO deplores murder of another Thai journalist

The United Nations agency tasked with protecting press freedom today condemned the recent murder of a local newspaper editor in southern Thailand, the second journalist to be killed in the South-East Asian country in less than a month and the fourth this year.

Wallop Bounsampop, the editor of Den Siam, was shot in the head on 5 October by two men at a restaurant in his home village in Chonburi province.

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), issued a statement warning about the recent increase in attacks against journalists operating in Thailand.

“This murder, like all attacks on media workers, undermines the basic human right of freedom of expression,” he said. “I trust that the authorities will do all they can to bring the culprits of this reprehensible crime to justice.”

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Reporters without Borders said the killing of Mr. Bounsampop could be linked to his articles. The 52-year-old’s death comes just weeks after Jaruek Rangchareon, a reporter for Matichon in central Thailand, was shot dead on 27 September.