The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the murder of Dhanusha-based journalist Uma Singh by an unidentified armed group, saying that the gruesome murder has left the constitutional human rights body stunned.

"The NHRC condemns such a barbarous and cowardice act," said the NHRC in a press statement. The human rights watchdog informed that its Janakpur office has initiated investigations into the killing and a high-level delegation will head towards the incident site.

"The series of violent activities are continuing unabated despite the NHRC's repeated call for the Home Minister and the officer bearers of the security bodies citing the lack of necessary improvement in the law and order situation," read the statement.

"The latest murder incident has proven that the security situation in Janakpur area is immensely weak."

The NHRC has also learnt about the death threat issued to Kantipur Daily's Janakpur correspondent Monika Jha and use of abusive words to her, the statement said.

"The NHRC believes that such repeated incidents against the journalists have launched a serious attack against the people's fundamental right to expression and information" added the statement.

In the statement, the autonomous constitutional human rights watchdog has urged the government to identify the guilty involved in the incident and to take legal action against them and ensure the security of journalists and rights activists so that they can carry out their work in a peaceful and free environment.

Last night, an unknown gang of around 15 people attacked journalist Uma Singh at her rented room in Rajauli, in Janakpur-14. She died at Bardibas Mahottari district around midnight, while being rushed to the capital for treatment.

Likewise, United National Office of the High commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) deplored the killing of woman journalist Uma Singh.

In a statement released today, the UN rights watchdog has called on Nepal Police to look into Singh's death, to hunt down the killers and bring them to justice.

Urging the Nepal government to investigate and prosecute death threats and an apparent attempt to attack another woman journalist, a Kantipur daily correspondent, in Janakpur the same night, the OHCHR called on all sectors of Nepali society to respect freedom of opinion and the rights of journalists.

“Occurring amid a growing number of reports of incidents targeting journalists throughout Nepal, this tragedy should galvanise those responsible for protection of media freedom to take the necessary action to ensure the security of journalists,” the statement quoted OHCHR-Nepal Representative Richard Bennett.

Date: 12 January 2009

Source: Kantipur Online