Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Morang Police has arbitrarily arrested Dr Chandra Kant Raut, a social activist, at 7:15 PM on 13 September 2014. The police also arrested Satyanarayan Mandal who was travelling with him to Biratnagar after attending Chata Mela in Rangeli Municipality. They are currently being detained at the Morang Police Office. The AHRC fears for the safety of Dr Raut and Satyanarayn Mandal.
CASE NARRATIVE:
The Asian Human Rights Commission is concerned on the arbitrary arrest of Dr Chandra Kant Raut at 7:15 PM on 13 September 2014 by the Morang Police. Satyanarayan Mandal who was travelling with him was also arrested. The arbitrary arrest took place at Aamtola Ward Number 3 of Rangeli Municipality. Around 12 police officers who came in 2 police vans stopped his vehicle and took them forcibly.Doctor Raut was returning to Biratnagar after attending Chata Mela (Celebration of Santhal Community) in a car, Maruti Van, number Sh. 1 Ch. 154.
Doctor Raut holds a PhD from the Cambridge University, UK and worked as a scientist in the USA prior to returning to Nepal to advocate for the rights of the Madheshis, the native and indigenous people of the southern plains. He has been advocating for freedom of Madhesh through peaceful and non-violent means in the capacity of Central Coordinator of the Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM).
AIM has been recently conducting interaction programs targeted mainly at raising awareness about the history as well as the current political scenario of Madhesh. They have been conducting these informal programs in various districts of Nepal for the last one month, and the participants attend the programs usually by invitation-only. But in many programs, officers from the Nepal Police and Investigation Department (and in one program even army staffs) were present, to which Dr Raut and his organisation did not object and continued their program. However, on 10th September 2014, in Bardiya district, police personnel intervened in their program and asked the organisers to stop that raising fear and panic among the participants. Later the police questioned several participants. They even went to their homes, and reportedly attempted to harass them.
Acknowledging that everyone has the rights to freedom of speech, movement, peaceful assembly and association are the fundamental rights of all human beings everywhere, as also mandated by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Nepal is a signatory, we expect acknowledgement and assurance of our rights from the state and its agencies.
The AHRC urges the government of Nepal to immediately release Dr Chandra Kant Raut and Satyanarayan Mandal. The AHRC is worried about the physical safety of Dr Raut and Mr Mandal. The AHRC fears possible torture, harassment and other ill treatment during their arbitrary arrest by the Morang Police.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters to authorities listed below, expressing concern about this arbitrary arrest, requesting immediate intervention. Dr Chandra Kant Raut and Satyanarayan Mandal must be released at the earliest.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ______,
NEPAL: Immediately release Doctor Chandra Kant Raut who have been confined into illegal and arbitrary confinement
Name of victims: Dr. Chandra Kant Raut & Satyanarayan Mandal
Names of alleged perpetrators: Police Officers from the Morang Police Office
Date of incident: 7:15 PM, 13 September 2014
Place of incident: Morang Police Office, Morang District, Nepal
I write with deep concern that the Morang Police has arbitrarily arrested Dr. Chandra Kant Raut at 7:15 PM Nepali time on 13 September 2014. Satyanarayan Mandal who was travelling with him was also arrested. The arbitrary arrest took place at Aamtola Ward Number 3 of Rangeli Municipality. Around 12 police officers who came in 2 police vans stopped his vehicle and took them forcibly.Doctor Raut was returning to Biratnagar after attending Chata Mela (Celebration of Santhal Community) in a car, Maruti Van, number Sh. 1 Ch. 154.
Doctor Raut holds a PhD from the Cambridge University, UK and worked as a scientist in the USA prior to returning to Nepal to advocate for the rights of the Madheshis, the native and indigenous people of the southern plains. He has been advocating for freedom of Madhesh through peaceful and non-violent means in the capacity of Central Coordinator of the Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM).
AIM has been recently conducting interaction programs targeted mainly at raising awareness about the history as well as the current political scenario of Madhesh. They have been conducting these informal programs in various districts of Nepal for the last one month, and the participants attend the programs usually by invitation-only. But in many programs, officers from the Nepal Police and Investigation Department (and in one program even army staffs) were present, to which Dr Raut and his organisation did not object and continued their program. However, on 10th September 2014, in Bardiya district, police personnel intervened in their program and asked the organisers to stop that raising fear and panic among the participants. Later the police questioned several participants. They even went to their homes, and reportedly attempted to harass them.
Acknowledging that everyone has the rights to freedom of speech, movement, peaceful assembly and association are the fundamental rights of all human beings everywhere, as also mandated by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Nepal is a signatory, we expect acknowledgement and assurance of our rights from the state and its agencies.
Therefore, I urge the government of Nepal to immediately intervene and release Dr Chandra Kant Raut and Satyanarayan Mandal. The AHRC is worried about the physical safety of Dr Raut and Mr Mandal. The AHRC fears possible torture, harassment and other ill treatment during their arbitrary arrest by the Morang Police.
I look forward to your immediate attention in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
—————————————
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Sushil Koirala
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal
Singh Darbar, Kathmandu
P.O. Box: 23312
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4211000
+977 1 4211000
+977 1 4211000
Fax: +977 1 4211086
Email: info@opmcm.gov.np
2. Mr. Bamdev Gautam
Home Minister of Nepal
Ministry of Home Affairs
Singh Darbar, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 421-1257, 421-1286
Email: gunaso@moha.gov.np
3. Mr. Bed Prasad Bhattarai
Acting Secretary
National Human Rights Commission
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 55 47973
Tel: +977 1 5010015+977 1 5010015+977 1 5010015
E-mail: complaints@nhrcnepal.org ornhrc@nhrcnepal.org
4. Mr. Baburam Kunwar
Office of Attorney General
Ramshah Path, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4240210+977 1 4240210+977 1 4240210, +977 1 4262548+977 1 4262548+977 1 4262548+977 1 4262548, +977 1 4262394+977 1 4262394+977 1 4262394+977 1 4262394
Fax: +977 1 4262582 / 4218051
Email: info@attorneygeneral.gov.np
5. Mr. Upendra Kant Aryal
Inspector General of Police
Police Head Quarters
Naxal, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 4415593
Tel: +977 1 4412432+977 1 4412432+977 1 4412432
Email: phqigs@nepalpolice.gov.np
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
