The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed of the arrest of over 100 political leaders and human rights activists earlier today, January 19, 2006, in a serious development in the deteriorating human rights situation in Nepal. Reports indicate that the homes of a number of prominent human rights defenders have also been visited by the security forces. The crack-down has been launched the day before large-scale demonstrations are to be held, on January 20, 2006, to protest against the illegitimate governments attempt to dupe the international community with fraudulent municipal elections, set for February 8, 2006. The latest list of the identities of the persons known to have been arrested is attached herewith. Security reasons relating to Maoist insurgents, have again been used to attempt to justify this premeditated act.
The AHRC released a statement on January 17, 2006 in which it denounced the increased repression by Nepals royal government through the enforcement of disproportionate measures including curfews and a total, indefinite ban on demonstrations. Today the situation worsened significantly. AHRC has been concerned by reports from its sources in the country that the next phase of the clamp-down, that has been spiraling out of control since the royal coup on February 1, 2005, was to entail the targeting of human rights NGOs and their members. AHRC notes with concern that this has now begun.
Land lines and mobile phones, as well as internet connections, were cut off earlier today in Kathmandu and other major cities in the country, in a reminder of the methods used during the disastrous royal take-over nearly one year ago. Mobile phones remain cut off at the time of writing.
The BBCs correspondent in Kathmandu has reported the situation and stated that the Nepalese Home Minister, Kamal Thapa, said that at least 100 opposition leaders and activists had been detained for security reasons. The authorities in Nepal continue to repress the countrys people and violate the gamut of human rights under the false pretext of security issues. There have been several opportunities to improve security, engage with the Maoist insurgents and move towards peace, notably during the recent Maoist cease-fire, that have been spurned by the King and his acolytes. There has not been a single action of note that gives credence to the possibility that the King and his government are in any way interested in resolving the conflict, improving security and protecting the people of Nepal. To use security as a pretext for measures that can only reduce the security of the people of Nepal is as flagrant and cynical as it is criminally dangerous.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has denounced the governments actions and stated that the alleged suspicion of Maoist infiltration in the planned demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow, called by the alliance of seven political parties, to denounce the Kings arranged municipal elections on February 8, 2006 cannot justify the harsh measures being used to clamp down on democratic protests. The AHRC does not recognize the current government as being legitimate, due to its human rights record and actions over the last year. The planned elections are therefore also totally illegitimate. They are part of a scheme to dupe the international community into thinking that Nepal is taking a democratic course.
The targeting of human rights defenders is a particularly worrying development. The AHRC is gravely concerned that detainees will be subjected to torture or forced disappearance, as these are systematic practices in Nepal. There is a serious likelihood of there being large-scale such violations as a result of the repression of massive demonstrations planned for January 20, 2006. The authorities have attempted to thwart the demonstrations by arresting key leaders.
A number of persons have reportedly already been served with three-month detention orders under the Public Security Act (PSA), following their unjustifiable preventive arrest in Kathmandu on January 17. It is thought that the most recent arrestees may face a similar fate. The OHCHR has noted that the PSA permits detention without trial, initially for up to 90 days, to prevent persons from committing actions that undermine the sovereignty, integrity or public tranquillity and order of the Kingdom. AHRC believes that the actions of the King fundamentally undermine the sovereignty, integrity or public tranquillity and order of Nepal.
The AHRC calls for all the persons arrested for infringements of the disproportionate curfew and anti-constitutional ban on demonstrations to be immediately released, for these draconian measures to be repealed, and for the demonstrations not only to be allowed to proceed unhindered but for their demands to be heeded enabling a truly democratic process to take place in Nepal. International human rights organisations have denounced the Kings actions today and for the last year, as have numerous governments, the United Nations and other inter-governmental institutions. It is now time for the King to listen and take positive action, in respect of international laws and standards. It should be clear by now that the repressive game can only end in tears.
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List of arrested persons (as of 19 January 2006) 
[346 KB] (<< Click here to download the MS Word file containing the list)
