Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the attempted assassination of a leader of the Nepali Congress and is concerned that this may be the beginning of a new trend whereby political leaders are targeted for extrajudicial killings.
On 4 February 2006, at approximately 12.45pm, police personnel fired on Amrit Aryal, Party President of Morang District from the Nepali Congress. Mr. Aryal, along with Congress Party Activist Kamachya Parajuli, was returning home after participating in a peaceful demonstration organised by a group of women leaders and cadres of seven political parties. On nearing the Sanischare Maisthan, a single police officer on a motorcycle fired live ammunition at Mr. Aryal. Mr. Aryal, however, was not hit and therefore continued on his way. However, Mr. Aryal was then followed by a police van from the Hospital Chowk. Upon nearing the Adarsha Jalapan Griha near Traffic Chowk a group of police personnel ordered Mr. Aryal to wait. Whilst this was taking place some police personnel tried to apprehend Mr. Aryal on his motorbike but he escaped. Mr. Aryal then continued on and upon nearing Sanischare Maisthat another van appeared. Police personnel from this van then fired at Mr. Aryal, who averted their fire by entering a narrow avenue in which the van was unable to follow. Since these incidents Mr. Aryal has gone into hiding.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities listed below seeking their urgent intervention into this worsening crisis in Nepal. Please call for an immediate investigation into the shootings, attempted apprehension, and threats made against Mr. Aryal. Please voice your concern that this may be the start of a new trend of the extra-judicial killings of political leaders.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
NEPAL: Near Assassination of Nepali Congress district level leader
Name of victim: Amrit Aryal, Party President of Morang District from the Nepali Congress
Name of the alleged perpetrators: Police personnel
Date of incident: 4 February 2006
Place of incident: Ward No 13 Biratnagar Sub-Municipity
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding an incident involving the attempted assassination of Amrit Aryal, Party President of Morang District and a leader of the Nepali Congress.
According to the information I have received, on 4 February 2006 Mr. Aryal had attended a peaceful demonstration organised by women leaders and cadres of seven political parties. Just past midday, Mr. Aryal then proceeded to make his way home accompanied by Congress Party Activist Kamachya Parajuli. On nearing the Sanischare Maisthan, a single police officer on a motorcycle shot live ammunition at Mr. Aryal. Mr. Aryal was not hit and therefore continued on his way. However, some distance away Mr. Aryal was then yet again fired upon by police personnel this time by police personnel inside a van. Mr. Aryal averted the fire by entering a narrow avenue in which the van was unable to follow. Since these incidents Mr. Aryal has gone into hiding.
These attempted assassinations of Mr. Aryal are most disturbing and point to a possible trend that may emerge, whereby political leaders are extra-judicially killed in an attempt to silence them. Such a scenario will do nothing to restore peace to Nepal and therefore must be stopped before it starts.
I therefore call on you to intervene in this situation so that further attempts are not made on the lives of political leaders. I ask that you please take measures to ensure that an investigation is conducted into this incident and that the perpetrators of this shooting are brought to justice. During this time full and appropriate protection must be provided to the witness so that no further threats are made against his life. All efforts must be exhausted to ensure that no such shootings occur again, in order that this does not become a trend against those critical of the current political situation in Nepal.
I trust that your intervention will be forthcoming in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:
1. His Majesty King Gyanendra
Narayanhity Royal Palace
Durbar Marg
Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: 977 14 413577/227577
Fax: 977 14 227395/ 411955
2. Colonel Pankaj Karki
Officer of Royal Nepal Army Human Rights Cell
Human Rights Cell
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu
NEPAL
Telefax: + 977 14 245 020/226 292
3. Laxmi Bahadur Nirala
Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
Ramshahpath, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: +977 14 262548 (direct line)/262394 (through Personal Assistant)
Fax: +977 14 262582
Email: fpattorney@most.gov.np
4. Mr. Nain Bahadur Khatri
Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission
Pulchowck, Lalitpur
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 5 547 974 or 525 659 or 547 975
Fax: +9771 5 547 973
Email: nhrc@ntc.net.np
5. Mr. Ian Martin
Chief of Mission
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights- Nepal Office
UN House, Pulchowk
Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: (977) 1 5524 366 or 5523 200
Fax: (977) 1 5523 991 or 5523 986
Email: hrinfounit@undp.org
6. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Attn: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
Email: lventre@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
