Nepali journalist assaulted, in critical condition
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 12 August 2011 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Nepali journalist assaulted, in critical condition, 12 August 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e5f704828.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
New York, August 12, 2011 – The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern today about a brutal attack on journalist Kishor Budhathoki in eastern Nepal on Thursday night. Budhathoki is vice president of the local chapter of press freedom watchdog the Federation of Nepali Journalists and also reports for sister papers The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post.
At least two assailants attacked the journalist with knives and sticks in his home in the Sankhuwasabha district, according to the federation and local news reports. He has severe head injuries and remains in critical condition at the local hospital, reports said. The Himalayan Times reported that 10 assailants were involved in the attack.
The motive was unclear, The Himalayan Times said, but the federation said the crime may have been carried out in reprisal for Budhathoki's reporting. Kathmandu-based Republica newspaper reported that the attack was related to a story the journalist had written on domestic violence.
"We urge authorities to immediately investigate this ruthless attack on Kishor Budhathoki," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "Nepali journalists must be able to report freely without fear of violence."
Authorities obtained partial justice this year for the 2009 slaying of Uma Singh and the 2007 murder of Birendra Shah by prosecuting some of the individuals accused of carrying out the unrelated attacks, but the suspected masterminds in each investigation still remain at large. Nepal is seventh on CPJ's 2011 Impunity Index, which calculates unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of a country's population.
