NEPAL: 24-year-old man allegedly tortured to death by Maoists 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a reliable source regarding the alleged abduction, brutal torture and murder of a 24-year-old man, Mr. Santa Bahadur BK, by unidentified members of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), in Ishaneshor Village Development Committee (VDC)-1 in Lamjung District, on the 6th September 2006. Despite the assurances of the Maoist Chief of the Lamjung District to bring the alleged culprits to justice, Santa Bahadur’s murderers are still at large.

According to the information we have received, Santa Bahadur was at home with his family at the time of his abduction at 6:30pm on September 6th. His abductors, two yet unidentified members of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), told him that they required his assistance on a “small job”. Santa Bahadur was then taken to the nearby home of an elderly resident of Ishaneshor; soon thereafter, over 40 Maoists gathered at the home, and accused Santa Bahadur of having committed a theft in the village.

The Maoists then reportedly bound Santa Bahadur’s hands and feet, and severely beat him with sticks; he suffered serious injuries to his back, legs, hands and most other parts of his body.

When by the next evening (September 7th), there was still no word of Santa Bahadur, around 300 local villagers gathered at the home as a sign of protest. The villagers did not believe the charges brought against him by the Maoists, and broke down the door to rescue him. By that time, Santa Bahadur’s torturers had fled the scene; bar one, who was guarding the room in which Mr. Santa Bahadur’s dead body was found.

Following Santa Bahadur’s death, the Maoist Chief of the Lamjung District has assured that those responsible for Santa Bahadur’s torture and murder would be brought to justice; but as yet, no investigation has been conducted, nor has any action been taken against the perpetrators.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Unfortunately, Santa Bahadur’s case is not an exception, but rather one in an endless chain of crimes committed by Nepalese government security forces and Maoist groups. The conflict between the Nepalese government and Maoist armed groups has been raging since 1996. In a rapidly deteriorating internal security situation, Nepal has amongst the highest records of human rights violations in the world, particularly in recent years; notably torture, extra-judicial executions and disappearances, committed by both parties in the conflict.

Despite the overturning of King Gyanendra’s coup- first staged on 1st February 2006- in April of this year, and the slow but sure beginnings of the democratic- and peace-building processes in Nepal, serious violations of fundamental human rights by both parties continue to go unpunished. While it is vital to bring an end to all hostilities under a unitary ceasefire agreement, just as important, is the need to achieve justice and redress for victims of torture, extra-judicial killings, disappearances and other human rights abuses. This must not be lost sight of in the struggle for long term stability; nor should it be sacrificed for short-term political gain. All sides involved in the conflict must be wholly committed to all peace-making endeavours in Nepal.

Therefore, the new civilian government must take the necessary measures in establishing and enforcing a much stricter code of discipline among the security forces, in order to bring an end to the gross atrocities previously committed by them. The recent appointment of the newly established government of Army Lieutenant General Rukmangat Katuwal- who stands accused of a plethora of human rights crimes- as Army Chief of Staff of Nepal is a cause for serious humanitarian concern (See further: AS-214-2006 and AS-203-2006). Political pressure must also be applied on the CPN (Maoist), in ensuring an end to the string of human rights atrocities committed by them, and also in ensuring that all guilty perpetrators (including of past unpunished crimes) will be held accountable. Otherwise, the future stability of the country remains precarious.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, expressing your grave concern and ethical denunciation of the abduction, torture and murder of Santa Bahadur, as well as the ongoing series of human rights violations committed by members of the CPN (Maoist). Please urge both parties to show greater dedication and take greater steps in ending Nepal’s ongoing track-record of endless inhumanities.

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