Birendra Shah

This article is about the Nepalese journalist. For the former King of Nepal, see Birendra of Nepal.
Birendra Shah
Born Inarwasira
Disappeared October 4/5, 2007
Pipara Bazaar, Kalaiya, Bara, Nepal
Status Killed
Body discovered November 8, 2007
Nationality Nepalese
Occupation Journalist
Employer Nepal FM, Dristi Weekly, and Avenues TV
Spouse(s) Umarawati Devi
Children Bibek Shah
Parent(s) Deven Shah

Birendra Shah (Nepali: बीरेन्द्र शाह) (Unknown – November 8, 2007) print and broadcast journalist for the Nepal FM, Dristi Weekly, and Avenues TV in Bara, Nepal was kidnapped October 4/5, 2007 by Communist Party of Nepal Maoists from Pipara Bazaar, Kalaiya, Bara, Nepal, and found dead one month later.[1][2][3] The CPN(M) later issued a statement confirming his death.[4]

Personal

Married to Umarawati Devi with two children.

Death

Kathmandu
Kalaiya
Kalaiya, in the Bara district, is located in Nepal and shown relative to the capital Kathmandu.

Shah was kidnapped after exposing the Maoists and connections to illegal logging deals. Three members of the Maoists abducted Shah, took him to a forest, and then shot him to death same day he was kidnapped.[5]

Context

Shah exposed illegal logging deals related to the Maoists. Before his death, he had written several reports about the Maoists which resulted in many threats from the party. They abducted and killed him the same day in a forest and threw his body in a swampy forest. Members of Maoist first denied the abduction and killing of the journalist but then after a month admitted to the killing. The abduction and killing was part of a "personal vendetta".[5][6]

Impact

Shah has been given an Television journalism award in his memory from Avenues Television production.[7]

Reactions

His death drew criticism from several press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders,[8] the Committee to Protect Journalists,[9] and the International Federation of Journalists.[10] There were multiple calls for justice and a nationwide protest.[5][6][7]

More than a month after the killing, Maoist Deputy Commander Janardan Sharma Prabhakar apologized on behalf of his party, which had previously claimed innocence.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Birendra Shah: Journalist abducted in Bara, whereabouts are still unknown - Protectionline". Protectionline.
  2. ↑ "Birendra Shah". Committee to Protect Journalists.
  3. ↑ "NEPAL: Sitaula confirms Maoist involvement in journalist Shah's abduction".
  4. ↑ "Nepal Maoist leader apologizes for journalist's murder". BBC Worldwide Monitoring (Lexis-Nexis). 2007-11-08.
  5. 1 2 3 "Funeral Held for Murdered Nepalese Journalist". VOA.
  6. 1 2 "Outcry in Nepal after Maoists admit to killing journalist".
  7. 1 2 "NEPAL: Journalist Shah's last rites performed".
  8. ↑ Reporters without Borders. "Maoists confess that journalist Birendra Shah was killed the day he was kidnapped". Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  9. ↑ Committee to Protect Journalists. "Nepal's Birendra Shah is dead, Maoists say". Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  10. ↑ "NEPAL: IFJ outraged at the death of Birendra Shah". Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  11. ↑ "Abducted Nepal journalist's body found". "BBC Worldwide Monitoring (Lexis-Nexis). 2007-11-08.


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