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Media publisher slain; editors threatened

A Nepali publisher and chairman of a media organisation was shot and killed on 1 March, report the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Journalists and editors continue to face intimidation and threats despite the state's commitments to press freedom and journalist's safety, says the International Press Institute (IPI).

Arun Singhaniya, publisher of "Janakpur Today" and chairman of the Today Group, was murdered by a man riding on the back of a motorcycle, in Shiva Chowk Janakpur, Dhanusha District.

Singhaniya's murder, which comes less than a month after media entrepreneur Jamim Shah was killed in Kathmandu, points to the government's failure to provide security for journalists and media workers. FNJ organised a protest rally on 3 March.

Last month, the chairman and editors of two Nepali newspapers received threats because of their coverage of the murder of media owner Jamin Shah on 7 February, according to IPI.

On 12 February, the chairman and managing director of Kantipur Publications, Kailash Sirohiya, received an email message telling him to stop reporting on Shah's murder or face reprisals. On 11 and 12 February, "Kathmandu Post" editor Akhilesh Upadhyay and "Kantipur" editor Sudheer Sharma received threats over the telephone. Upadhyay's caller said: "Shut up or we will make you shut up."