Stop Killing Journalists -Kamala Sarup ‘Don’t kill journalists’ Nepali Journalists and people of all walks of life across the country continue to condemn the killing of journalist Dekendra Raj Thapa. Maoists admitted that they had ‘executed’ Thapa on August 11 after detaining him for nearly six weeks. Thapa is the second journalist to be killed in the country this year. A Paris-based press freedom watchdog, Reporters Without Borders said it was shocked and revolted by this barbaric murder. Gyanendra Khadka, a journalist with the government news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti , was also killed by Maoists on September 7, in Jyamire, in Nepal’s eastern Sindhupalchowk District. Padma Raj Devkota, editor of the fortnightly Bhurichula, was killed by army troops in the western district of Jumla in February. Mr. Krishna Sen, the editor in chief of the Janadesh daily newspaper, disappeared May 20, 2002. His body has never been found. Eight reporters were killed last year; 176 were arrested, kidnapped, or detained; and dozens more were tortured by both the Maoist and by the government. No legal inquiry has investigated these killings. The demand for justice for journalists is gathering strength in Nepal. At last, the media industry is recognizing that it must do more to reduce the risks to journalists who are among the most vulnerable. The kidnapping and murder of a journalist, or of any civilian, violates the most fundamental principles of humanity. We Nepalese people condem the murder of Thapa and urged the PM to ensure that a vigorous investigation is undertaken so that Thapa’s killers may be brought to justice. Journalists have been beaten, gang-raped, or subjected to other forms of torture, including threats against their children since this conflict began. This conflict, however, appears more dangerous than any other. The deliberate and indiscriminate killing of journalist by maoists in Nepal violates the basic principles of international humanitarian law. Even if we see International humanitarian law, which governs the conduct of the parties in an armed conflict, comprises a series of treaties and conventions, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 Additional Protocols. Any journalists covering war should be able to report effectively on violations of the rules of war, including war crimes; second, because a number of provisions of the conventions apply directly to journalists. Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, journalists must be treated humanely. Maoists should remember that media can be an instrument of conflict resolution. It is a media that reduces conflict and fosters human security. While it is true that journalism must be fair and accurate and Media should provide information in an unbiased, neutral and well-informed manner. The latest killings have given a new sense of urgency to the campaign. This is clearly tragic incident, it is extremely regrettable. Such behavior is unacceptable and must be punished. The long civil war in Nepal places it among the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. The murders of journalists each year receive little attention and often go unpunished. Journalists and media have been targeted everywhere in Nepal. Journalism is the cornerstone of press freedom and we must ensure that there is a proper investigation every time journalist dies. These deaths, whether as a result of conflict, illustrate just how important it is to provide journalists with more protection. Journalists have often been caught in the crossfire in Nepal’s violent conflict between security forces and rebels. Journalism in Nepal with one of the most robust and diverse landscapes for press freedom is facing a crisis of safety for journalists. Despite much talk of ethical principles and human rights the struggle for press freedom remains a lofty ambition in Nepal. The problems in Nepal deserve mention because journalists are most at risk. Meanwhile, there is continuing crisis for democracy and press freedom in Nepal. There must be no impunity for the killers of journalists and media workers. All journalists are vulnerable when attacks against the press can be committed with impunity.The deliberate targeting of journalists by those who seek to prevent the media from exposing their activities represents a worrying trend in Nepal. If the killers learn that by killing a journalist the media will come together and give them more media attention, that is not true. It is another bad and blood-stained year for press freedom. The human cost of covering the conflict story is already too high. The impact of conflict on the work of news media cast a long shadow over journalism in Nepal. Media organizations in Nepal need to do more to provide safety training, to journalists, especially to freelancers who are among the most vulnerable. Equally, the journalists themselves must be well informed and aware of risks before travelling to dangerous places. There is no story worth getting killed for. One of the most important skills that journalists can learn is how to protect themselves and each other in the field. Journalists, employers and media unions must lead the way in setting standards for security. Media companies should recognize their responsibility to free-lancers and stringers covering conflicts and should provide them with coverage equivalent to staff correspondents. Even on the other hand, journalists in Nepal have to realise the pivotal importance of the media in the process of conflict transformation if media continues to spew out half-truths, propaganda and poor information, it will negatively counter all other attempts at peace building. Deuba government should work hard to improve and protect journalists. Governments must put the safety of journalists and media staff to the top of the agenda. Deuba government should changes in national law to ensure that targeting journalists and neglecting to protect them are made war crimes. On the other hand, Maoists should know restricting media coverage of a conflict is not a legitimate reason. They should know that journalists have a special obligation in times of conflict to report both sides of a story. (Kamala Sarup is a Co-Ordinator of a media watch group - The Peace Media Research Center - and can be reached at peacemedia@gmail.com )