The journalist watchdog said political groups go unpunished in frequent attacks against the media.
"At least five journalist murders are unsolved, four of which are believed to have been perpetrated by Maoist rebels during Nepal’s decade-long civil conflict," the CPJ statement said. "Now the majority in a coalition government, the Maoists have yet to make good on assurances that the killers would not receive political protection."
The victims include radio reporter Dekendra Raj Thapa, who was abducted and killed by Maoist rebels in 2004. Another journalist, abducted by Maoists and feared to be murdered as well is Prakash Thakuri of Dhangadhi. Recently, Thakuri´s wife has moved the Supreme Court against a government decision to shut down the case of Thakuri -- among the 349 that the Maoists feel is politically motivated.
CPJ points out that murderous conditions for the press in Sri Lanka and Pakistan deteriorated further in the past year, with Iraq continuing to be the most unsafe place for journalists.
This year’s report -- Getting Away with Murder 2009 -- is being released in Manila to mark the fourth anniversary of the murder of Marlene Garcia-Esperat, a Philippine columnist who reported on corruption in the government’s agriculture department.
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