FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2004
AS-26-2004
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
Asian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned regarding the devastating security situation in Nepal. Current events have exposed the His Majestys Government of Nepals (HMGN) chaotic state of affairs. The situation of “law and order” and internal security is deteriorating which reflects governments inability to ensure safety and security of its people.
The current wave of events is not intended to do any good to the dilemma faced by the people and the government of Nepal. It is very clear that government has limited capacity to deal with the situation and to protect its citizen. AHRC has raised its voice at number of occasions that government security forces resorted to violence to control the situation, which was absolutely unnecessary. With the HMGN consent, the security forces have carried out tactics such as arbitrary arrests, torture, extra judicial killings and disappearances. The government also knows that security forces were targeting journalists and human rights defenders on the pretext of maintaining law and order in the country. Such blatant use of force, disregarding all human rights principles and standards, is carried out with the same vigour and brutality by the government security forces and the militia. HMGN, by absolute muteness, accepted these gross violations of its constitutional and international responsibilities by its security forces over the last few years. Also it helped security forces to cover-up grave human rights violations including extra judicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture in custody. Even the highest Court of the country and National Human Rights Commission were directed not to discuss violations committed by the military and thus denying remedies for the victims.
Simultaneously, Maoist leadership and militia groups should respect the rights of the ordinary people in Nepal. Intended Siege of Kathmandu will increase the misery of the people, which will lead to an irritant humanitarian catastrophe. We note that so far this intended siege has not triggered any incident, however the possibilities of hostilities and loss of human life have increased immensely.
AHRC stress the importance of freedom of press and need for due protection for all the journalists in Nepal. The journalists represent a vibrant civil society and moral voice of the nation. AHRC condemns the latest aggression by the Maoist militias towards journalists and Media groups, specifically the killing of journalist and human rights defender Dekendra Raj Thapa, on 11 August 2004. We strongly condemn the practice of summary executions and murders by any armed groups or Royal Nepal Army especially in the absence of proper due process. .
We call upon the Maoist militias and their leadership as well as the HMGN to respect human life and not to target any civilians. Also we call upon all the parties to give a clear assurance that journalists and human rights defenders in and outside Kathmandu will not be threatened or harassed.
International Community should consider current events as a sign of warning and intervene to encourage parties for peaceful talks. Also it is required that an international community condemn summary executions and aggression targeting the civilians both by the Maoist and the government forces. Also we call upon all parties to give a public assurance that essential supplies of commodities to Kathmandu will not be obstructed.
