UNESCO chief condemns murder of head of Nepalese radio station

The head of the United Nations agency mandated with upholding press freedom today spoke out against the murder of the chairman of a community radio station in western Nepal, calling on the country’s authorities to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.

Devi Prasad Dhital, who headed Tulsipur FM in the Dang district, was shot in the chest while riding his motorcycle on 22 July and died later that night in the hospital. The motive for the murder is not yet known.

Known as Hemraj, the 45-year-old is the third media owner to be killed this year in Nepal, according to Reporters Without Borders, a non-governmental organization (NGO).

“Acts of violence against journalists are attacks on freedom of expression, a fundamental human right,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “They cannot be tolerated in a democratic society.”