Maoists in government admit to having killed a journalist.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Nepal’s former Maoist rebels have admitted to having sequestered and killed a journalist last month, in southern parts of the country.  The news was reported following the results of an internal Maoist inquest, which concludes that Birendra Saha (the journalists name) was abducted on October 5th last in Bara district and killed shortly after. The local rebel leader is responsible for the episode, Lal BahadurChaudhary. In a document made public yesterday the group clarifies that he acted out of “personal vendetta, without following any party directive”.

According to another report compiled by an ad hoc government Committee, the Maoists from Bara, were annoyed by the reporters articles and activities for the popular Himal News Magazine. 

Saha’s murder is the latest in a series of Maoist attacks on the media.  The ex rebels are accused by many to be continuing in their battle with kidnappings, murders and extortion despite the deal reached at the end of last year with which they entered into the political life of the nation, laying down their arms and putting an end to the civil war, at least in theory. This is why Samuel Tamrat, deputy UN chief in Nepal, has warned them to “immediately cease such activities”.

The Federation of Nepalese journalists have widely condemned Saha’s murder, describing it as a “shameful crime”. “The murder of a journalist trapped with false promises of news, is not only an attack on press freedom but also on society”, reads the Federation statement.  A nationwide protest has been called for today.