Dear friends
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) in Nepal that a young human rights activist, Mr. Chet Prakash Khatri, was killed by an unidentified group in Sarragaon of Phattepur Village Development Committee (VDC)-7 near to the Nepal-India border on 24 December 2003. The reason for the killing is unknown. INSEC reported this case to the police and also asked the government of Nepal to initiate for proper investigation of the murder of Mr. Khatri. However neither the police nor the government has taken any proper action to investigate this incident and to arrest the perpetrators.
AHRC notes with great concern that this incident violates the right to life guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the government of Nepal is a state party. The government should fulfill its obligations under the covenant by investigating this case seriously and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Your urgent action is required to urge the government of Nepal to correct this matter immediately.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:
Around 3:30 p.m. on 24 December 2003, Mr. Chet Prakash Khatri, 23, a facilitator of the Peace Programme of INSEC working in Binauna VDC of Banke District, was killed by an unidentified group in Sarragaon of Phattenpur VDC-7 on the Rapti River near the Nepal-Inida border. On the body of Mr. Khatri, a cord mark was found on his broken neck and an injury on his chin. At the time of the incident, Mr. Khatri was on his way home from Gangapur VDC.
Some local newspapers have reported tjat Mr. Khatri was murdered by the Maoist rebels. However, Paban, area No. 8 secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN)-Maoists, issued a press statement on 28 December and condemned the news items as being a baseless.
INSEC reported this incident to the local police station and asked the government of Nepal to investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible. INSEC also asked the government to provide proper compensation to the victim’s family. However, neither the police nor the government has taken any proper action to investigate this incident and to arrest the perpetrators.
The Banke District representatives of five political parties in Nepal – Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, People’s Front-Nepal, Nepal Peasants’ and Workers’ Party and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) – issued a joint press statement, reprimanding the government’s reluctance to prove the case. They also demanded that the perpetrators be arrested and punished.
Mr. Chet Prakash Khatri had been working as a human rights facilitator in Binauna VDC of Banke District under the Campaign for Peace Programme launched by INSEC on 1 November 2003. He had been training the students in schools and the locals about safety measures remaining safe during the conflict. Mr. Khari was also working in the field of child rights, being affiliated to an NGO named the Bheri Environmental Excellence Group (BEE Group).
AHRC is gravely concerned that the murder of Mr. Khatri violates the right to life guaranteed by Article 2 of the ICCPR. Article 2(1) of the ICCPR states, ” Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
This incident has also violated the defenders’ rights guaranteed by the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in Article 12(2) which states, “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”
Therefore, AHRC urges the government of Nepal to order an immediate investigation into the murder of Mr. Khatri and punish the perpetrators as soon as possible. The government must note that the silence of the authorities towards this serious case facilitates the escape of the perpetrators.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Send a letter, fax or email to the addresses below and express your concern about this serious case.
1. Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa
Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: + 977 1 422 7286
2. Mr. Shyam Bhakta Thapa
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Naxal, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: + 977 1 441 5593 / 415 594
3. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative on the situation of human rights Defenders
C/o OHCHR-UNOG,
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear
Re: A young human rights defender was killed in Banke district
I am writing to bring to your attention the murder of a young human rights activist Mr. Chet Prakash Khatri.
According to the information I have received, on 24 December 2003, Mr. Chet Prakash Khatri, 23, a facilitator of the Peace Programme of INSEC working in Binauna VDC of Banke District, was killed by an unidentified group in Sarragaon of Phattenpur VDC-7 on the Rapti River near the Nepal-Inida border. On the body of Mr. Khatri, a cord mark was found on his broken neck and an injury on his chin. However, neither the police nor the government of Nepal has taken any proper action to investigate this incident and to arrest the perpetrators.
I am gravely concerned that that the murder of Mr. Khatri violates the right to life guaranteed by Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the government of Nepal is a state party. Article 2(1) of the ICCPR states, ” Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
This incident has also violated the defenders’ rights guaranteed by the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in Article 12(2) which states, “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”
Therefore, I urge the government of Nepal to order an immediate investigation into the murder of Mr. Khatri and punish the perpetrators as soon as possible. I also urge the government of Nepal to provide proper compensation to the victim’s family.
Truly yours,
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
