Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from the Advocacy Forum, Nepal.
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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A Press Release from the Advocacy Forum, Nepal forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
We are deeply saddened at the suspicious death of Mr. Purna Sunuwar, the father of late Maina Sunuwar killed by the army in 2004. We would like to offer our sincerest condolences and prayers to Mr. Sunuwar’s family at this time of great sorrow and distress.
Mr. Sunuwar was found dead nearby a jungle at Dandagaun VDC, Ward No.1, a village in the vicinity of his residence at Kharelthok VDC, Kavre. The police had found his body lying supine on the graveled road through the jungle at around 1 pm on 9 October 2009. He had left his home in the morning that day. His wife Devi Sunuwar had filed an application at Ward Police Post as he failed to return home. On 13 October, a local human rights defender identified him when the police had decided to dump the body, which had started showing signs of decay.
The preliminary autopsy report produced by Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, records that some traces of poison were found in the body and that the cause of death cannot be confirmed as it might be poisoning. The doctors attending the body held that the real cause of death could be verified only after a viscera test.
After the extrajudicial execution of their daughter Maina Sunuwar in 2004, the couple had distinguished themselves in the national and international arena by starting an undaunted legal battle with the then army establishment. The case of Maina Sunuwar is one of the cases in which the Nepal Army had to constitute a Military Court of Inquiry and Court Martial though the resulting judgment only found them guilty of not following procedures. The couple, however, challenged the verdict of the Military and had filed a First Information Report at the District Police Office of Kavre on 6 December 2005, demanding appropriate investigation and prosecution of the guilty officials before civilian court. Recently, on 13 September 2009, the District Court of Kavre had ordered the army headquarters to immediately proceed with the suspension of Major Mr. Niranjan Basnet, one of the alleged perpetrators in the case, and for the army to provide all the documents of the court martial to the court. On the same day, the court had also issued arrest warrant against four perpetrators. Mr. Sunuwar and his wife were complaining of increasing insecurity following the days of the court’s ruling. Therefore, we strongly urge the government to initiate immediate investigations into the case.
According to neighbours and friends, Mr. Sunuwar was deeply frustrated by the failure of the state to provide justice, despite the legal battle spanning nearly six years. He was also reporting of being insecure because of the challenge that they had made fighting against the army and the government.
Sunuwar will always be remembered as an exemplary father who unfalteringly pursued the path of justice despite persistent hassles, harassments and intimidations.
We pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
Mandira Sharma
Executive Director
14 October, 2009
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