UNESCO chief urges probe into killing of Nepali journalist

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today deplored the killing a Nepali journalist and called for a full investigation into his death.

Yadav Poudel, 39, was a correspondent for Avenues TV and for the Rajdhani daily newspaper, as well as the executive editor of New Mechi Times, a local daily published in the city of Birtamod. His body was found in the early hours of 4 April near a bus station in Birtamod and local press reports say that police arrested several suspects in connection with the killing.

“I welcome reports of progress in the investigation into this tragic event,” the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, said in a news release.

“It is essential that the motives for the crime against Yadav Poudel be unveiled, so that journalists can continue exercising their basic human right to freedom of expression and their professional duties as journalists without fearing reprisals for their work,” she added.

Mr. Poudel is the sixth journalist to be killed in Nepal since 2008.