Nepal

U.N. human rights officials in Nepal voiced alarm today over the threats made against journalists reporting on the recent murder of the media entrepreneur Jamim Shah, stressing that freedom of expression must be upheld in the Asian nation. Richard Bennett, the Representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal issued a statement condemning the threats against editors and publishers and describing them as sending “a chill through the entire community.” The threats follow the murder of the television channel operator Shah, who was shot dead in the capital, Kathmandu, on Feb. 7. “Unfortunately violence against the media is not rare in Nepal and has been witnessed especially against journalists working in the Terai,” said Bennett, referring to the region that runs along the length of southern Nepal. (U.N. Nations Service)