UNESCO chief voices concern at death of Indian journalist

(July 16, 2010) A top United Nations official has urged Indian authorities to look into the death of journalist Hem Chandra Pandey who was killed early this month in an encounter in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. “I am concerned about the circumstances in which Hem Chandra Pandey was killed and I urge the authorities to shed full light on the conditions under which it occurred,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Pandey, the 30-year old journalist who worked for several Hindi-language newspapers, was killed along with Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad on July 2. UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Shortly after the incident was reported, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed shock and also called for an inquiry. “Hem Chandra Pandey, like any journalist, was well within his rights in seeking to interview an insurgent leader, especially in the context of ongoing peace moves,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said last week. IFJ has welcomed the Andhra Pradesh Home Minister’s announcement of a full inquiry. Human rights groups in India and civil liberty activists have called for a Central investigation.