[cma-l] AMARC Deplores Murder of Community Radio Worker in Nepal

[Steve Buckley]

For immediate release:
AMARC Deplores Murder of Community Radio Worker

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC 
expresses deep shock and anger at the murder of Devi Prasad Dhital 
(Hemraj) Chairman of Community Radio Tulsipur on 22nd July 2010. 
According to initial reports, Dhital was shot at Urahari, about 12 
kilometers from Tulsipur in western Nepal on Thursday around 8:45 p.m.

Dhital, a resident of Tulsipur bazaar was riding a motorcycle on his 
way back from the Fulbari VDC. He succumbed to chest injuries at the 
Rapti Zone Hospital, later in the night. His pillion rider sustained 
minor injuries. The assailants are absconding and the motive behind 
the attack is still unknown. Police sources have informed that 
investigation is underway.

"Hemraj's murder has shocked the entire community broadcasting sector 
of Nepal and we deplore such heinous criminal act," said Raghu 
Mainali, Vice President for South Asia in the AMARC Asia Pacific 
regional board. "I call upon the concerned authorities and the local 
police administration to not to leave any stone unturned to ensure 
that the absconding criminals are brought to justice. Media persons 
are increasingly under attack from criminal groups and any negligence 
in investigation will only encourage such elements," he further said.

Dhital was 45 and is survived by his wife, two daughters aged 7 and 
9,  a younger brother, and parents. AMARC expresses heartfelt 
condolences to Hemraj's family as well as to Radio Tulsipur at this 
time of great sorrow and loss.

-END-

About AMARC:

AMARC is an international non-governmental organization serving the 
community radio movement in over 110 countries, and advocating for 
the right to communicate at the international, national, local and 
neighborhood levels. AMARC has an International Secretariat in 
Montreal. It has regional sections in Africa, Latin America and Asia 
Pacific and offices in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Brussels, and 
Kathmandu. For more information, please contact Suman Basnet, 
Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, 
<mailto:suman_basnet at asiapacific.amarc.org>suman_basnet at asiapacific.amarc.org 
or visit <http://www.asiapacific.amarc.org/>www.asiapacific.amarc.org.



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