NEPAL: Abduction and extra-judicial execution of a man goes unredressed

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from sources about the inaction of the police and the Attorney General in regards to the abduction and murder of a man in Chadani Village Development Committee (VDC)- 7, Haldughat, Kanchanpur by Maoists on 19 June 2005.

Two Maoists in civil dress entered the home of Antaram Bhatta and forcibly took him in front of his family.  They told his wife that he would be returned the next morning.  However, on 21 June 2005 Mr. Bhatta’s dead body was found cut into six pieces.  A notice was placed on his chest, saying that Mr. Bhatta was given the death penalty for allegedly spying against the Maoists.

The matter has not been fully investigated nor have the two Maoists who abducted Mr. Bhatta been properly prosecuted.

We urge your immediate intervention into this matter by demanding that the Government of Nepal perform an impartial and immediate investigation into the abduction and murder of Mr. Bhatta.  We request that those found to be involved in this heinous crime be brought before the court of law.  We also seek compensation for the victim’s family.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Antaram Bhatta (50), secretary to the Garui Sankra Community Forestry
Place of incident: Chadani VDC Ward No. 7, Haldughat, Kanchanpur, Nepal

Antaram Bhatta was a 50-year-old man living in Chadani Village Development Committee (VDC) Ward No. 7, Haldughat, Kanchanpur with his wife and family. He worked as a secretary for the Garui Sankar Community Forestry’s office in the village.  On 24 May 2005, a Maoist group called Tej Singh Karki went to the office to collect a “donation” from Mr. Bhatta.  When Mr. Bhatta was unable to pay, he was beaten.  On May 26, two plain clothes security personnel went to the village and killed Tej Singh.  As a result, Mr. Bhatta was accused of informing security forces of Maoist activity.

According to the testimony of Mr. Bhatta’s wife, Sarasawoti Devi Bhatt, on June 19 she and her family were sleeping when they heard an order to open the door in the middle of the night.  Two Maoists in civil dress were outside, demanding the location of Antaram Bhatta.  When Mr. Bhatta’s wife replied that he was not at home, they entered the home and ordered Mr. Bhatta to put clothes on.  When Mr. Bhatta remained still, they ordered him to go with them, despite the fact that he was improperly dressed.  Mr. Bhatta’s wife asked the men when her husband would return, to which they replied “the next morning.”  They further threatened that it would be dangerous if she spoke to anyone of what happened.

That day, Lal Bahadur Pun, a villager, witnessed thirteen or fourteen explosions near the market, two of them being exceptionally powerful.  The explosions affected nearby homes.  The next day there were more explosions.  One of these explosions destroyed the shop of Maniram Sunar, a resident of Dhodara VDC-2, Milan Chock.  These explosions were caused by Maoist socket bombs.  On June 21, Mr. Pun returned to his shop where he found Mr. Bhatta’s body.  Mr. Bhatta’s hands, legs and head were cut and separated from his body.  A single piece of cloth was placed on the upper part of his body and his pants were folded.

According to another villager, Ganendra Bayak, two leaflets were left on Mr. Bhatta’s chest.  Both leaflets contained the same message:

It is informed to all the people that Antaram Bhatta of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) who has given the secret message to the security forces about Tej Singh Karki, was given the death penalty on June 26.

District No. 8
Area No: 1
CPNUML (Maoist)

On the back of the leaflet, the following was written:
Long lives the Martyr Comrade Paribartan Tej Sing Karki.

On the third day of the abduction, June 21, Mr. Bhatta’s wife received information that her husband’s dead body was found cut into six pieces in Dodhara VDC-1, Babathan.  Mr. Bhatta’s family contacted security forces, human rights agencies, and journalists, informing them of the situation.  However, no action was taken by security forces or by any agency.  Therefore, she and her family were left with no choice but to pick up the body themselves.

After the death of her husband, Mr. Bhatta’s wife professed that she and her family were afraid for their safety.  As a result, they were unable to properly mourn for their loss.  Mr. Bhatta’s son, who studies in Kathmandu, was unable to attend his father’s funeral for fear of being abducted.  Mrs. Bhatta admitted that she is still afraid that she or her children will be abducted.  She has two sons and daughters whom she must care for alone now.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to Ian Martin, Chief of Mission, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights- Nepal Office, urging immediate investigation and prosecution of the matter.  Please also forward the same, or similar, letters to those authorities listed below.

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