Watchdog concerned about fate of Nepal journalist

KATHMANDU, July 12 (Reuters) Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has appealed to Nepal's government to determine the fate of a journalist kidnapped a week ago and rescue him if he is still alive.

An unknown group called the National Republican Army said this week it had killed Prakash Singh Thakuri, who was picked up from the western town of Mahendranagar. His body has not been found yet.

Thakuri's writings in a local daily, Aajako Samachar, are known to have supported unpopular King Gyanendra, who was forced by weeks of violent protests to give up power last year.

''Authorities must do everything possible to rescue Thakuri, if there is still time, or otherwise identify and arrest those responsible for his murder,'' the Paris-based watchdog said in a statement late yesterday.

''If his death is confirmed, he would be the first journalist to be killed since the fall of King Gyanendra's authoritarian regime in April 2006 and the return to democracy,'' it said.

Violence by some small rebel groups and little-known outfits has continued in Nepal despite the end of a decade-long Maoist conflict in which more than 13,000 people were killed.

Reuters AE DB1049