Dear Friends
Below is an urgent appeal we are forwarding from INSEC on behalf of Mr Ramesh SHARMA and others being subjected to extreme torture in Nepal, and we would welcome your action on their behalf. Please write/fax/email the Nepalese authorities, using the information supplied below, and urge them to take action now. Thank you.
SITUATION:
Ramesh SHARMA
Mr Sharma has been under treatment at the Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital (bed no: 408, Ophthalmology Ward). He has lost his right eye after being subjected to an indiscriminate baton charge by the Police during a peaceful torch rally on 11 May 2003 in Ratnapark, Kathmandu. Mr Sharma sustained severe injuries to both his eyes because the Police allegedly hit him several times with iron-spiked sticks and specifically targeted his eyes.
According to Mr Sharma, he tried to defend himself, especially his eyes, with his bare hands. However, this failed because the Police repeatedly charged at him, and he is sure that the action of the Police was deliberate. Mr Sharma said that although he had lost an eye, he hoped it would serve to ‘open eyes of the people to restore democracy and people’s rights’.
Prithwi Kumar PRAJAPATI
Prithwi Kumar PRAJAPATI (50 years old) is a resident of Bhakatapur Municipality-14. He was severely beaten by the Police on 14 May after he fell unconscious having been overcome by tear gas lobbed by the Police to disperse a rally. The rally was taking place as a prelude to the special meeting of the members of dissolved parliament against the royal regression, slated for 28 and 29 May.
Mr Prajapati is an activist with the All-Nepal Revolutionary Peasants Association (a sister organisation of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party). He was beaten with the butt of a gun after he fell down unconscious on the street when he was heading to Singh Durbar, the administrative headquarters of the nation.
Mr Prajapati’s intestine was cut in two places, penetrating through the anal canal. His belly became filled with blood. For two hours he lay suffering from internal bleeding, lying in a pool of his own blood. No-one was there to help him, as the rest of the demonstrators had already been shunted off. In the end, some passers-by took him to Bir Hospital. However, the staff at this government hospital ignored the intensity of Mr Prajapati’s injuries and supplied only saline water. Mr Prajapati’s relatives complained. He is now under treatment at cabin no.6, Kathmandu Model Hospital.
TORTURE
Police in Siraha have arrested 8 people they considered part of the Dalit-Ram community, on the charge of looting the house of Bishnu SHRESTHA, Bastipur Village Development Committee – 9, Gudigaun, in the same district, on 27 May. The 8 accused were at Mr Shrestha’s house to play in a band on the occasion of his son’s marriage.
According to the Nepal Settlement Protection Society (NSPS), a local human rights organisation in Siraha:
Ashok Ram,
Phaguniya Ram,
Chamak Ram,
Hari Har Ram,
Arjun Ram, and
Ram Lakhan Ram
all of the Bastipur Village Development Committee-8, Rupi Ram of Bachharwa, VDC, and
Pabitar Ram,of Kalyanpur Kalabanjar, VDC, were arrested by the Police.
According to Dev Raj Pokhrel, the INSEC district representative in Siraha, those arrested were not the looters. The 8 had gone to Mr Shreshta’s house to play in the wedding band on 26 May. Unknown looters had looted the house, and the administration has failed to bring them to book.
The Police have kept the victims in custody and inflicted severe mental and physical torture on them. The Police have not allowed them to contact their lawyers or meet their relatives. The Torture has increased as the local papers have disseminated news about the Police atrocities.
Due to the immense torture, Chamak Ram, Ram Lakhan Ram, and Ashok Ram, fell sick and were taken to a local hospital in Lahan on 29 May. The Police continued torturing them even after they were brought back to custody on 30 May.
The Dalit community of the district has condemned these acts of Torture on the part of the State against the Dalit community. The Dalit community has also demanded the release of the victims and has sought co-operation from the National Human Rights Commission and other human rights organisations, including INSEC, for due compensation against the torture.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters to:
| The Prime Minister |
The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Mr. Lokendra Bahadur Chand
Office of the Prime Minister, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu,
Nepal
Tel: +977 1 228555 or 227955
Fax: +977 1 227286 |
| The Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs |
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs
Mr. Khum Bahadur Khadka
Ministry of Home Affairs, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu,
Nepal
Tel: +977 1 224737
Fax: +977 1 227186 or 1 227187 |
| Inspector General of Police |
The Inspector General of Police
Mr. Pradip Shamsher Rana
Police Headquarters, GPO Box 407, Naxal, Kathmandu,
Nepal
Tel: +977 1 414985
Fax: +977 1 41 55 93 or 1 415594 |
| National Human Rights Commission |
Chairman, National Human Rights Commission
Nain Bahadur Khetri,
Nepal
Tel: +977-1-525659/547975/547976
Fax: +977-1-547973
Email: nhrc@ntc.net.np |
SUGGESTED LETTER:
Dear
I would like to bring to your notice the following violations of the right to be protected from Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Punishment. In International law, Torture is considered one of the gravest crimes.
Details of Cases:
1 Ramesh SHARMA
Mr Sharma has been under treatment at the Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital (bed no: 408, Ophthalmology Ward). He has lost his right eye after being subjected to an indiscriminate baton charge by the Police during a peaceful torch rally on 11 May 2003 in Ratnapark, Kathmandu. Mr Sharma sustained severe injuries to both his eyes because the Police allegedly hit him several times with iron-spiked sticks and specifically targeted his eyes.
2 Prithwi Kumar PRAJAPATI
Mr Prithwi Kumar Prajapati (50 years old) is a resident of Bhakatapur Municipality-14. He was severely beaten by the Police on 14 May after he fell unconscious having been overcome by tear gas lobbed by the Police to disperse a rally. He was beaten with the butt of a gun after he fell down unconscious in the street when he was heading to Singh Durbar. Mr Prajapati’s intestine was cut in two places, penetrating through the anal canal. His belly became filled with blood. For two hours he lay in a pool of his own blood, suffering from internal bleeding. No-one was there to help him as the rest of the demonstrators had already been shunted off. In the end, some passers-by took him to Bir Hospital. However, the staff at this government hospital ignored the intensity of Mr Prajapati’s injuries and supplied only saline water. Mr Prajapati’s relatives complained. He is now under treatment at cabin no: 6, Kathmandu Model Hospital.
3 Eight Held and Tortured
Ashok RAM, Phaguniya RAM, Chamak RAM, Hari Har RAM, Arjun RAM, and Ram Lakhan RAM of the Bastipur Village Development Committee-8, and Rupi RAM of Bachharwa VDC, and Pabitar RAM, of Kalyanpur Kalabanjar, VDC, were arrested by the Police on 27 May, on suspicion of looting. The Police considered these 8 people as part of the Dalit-Ram community. The 8 men were at the house of Mr Bishnu SHRESTHA, which was the house looted, to play in a band at the wedding of his son.
The Police have kept the 8 victims in custody and inflicted severe mental and physical torture on them, and they have not been allowed to contact their lawyers or meet their relatives. The Torture has increased as the local papers have disseminated news about the Police atrocities.
Your urgent action on these cases would be very much appreciated.
Yours sincerely
********
Thank you.
PAMELA APPS
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
