NEPAL: Military-sponsored vigilantes savage treatment of citizens 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned by new information received regarding the savage treatment of citizens by a military-sponsored civilian militia group called ‘Defense Committee against the Maoists’. In the most horrific case, this group cut off a part of the hand of a man before forcing him to eat the flesh. They then shot him dead. The group has also been overtly carrying weapons within village confines and have assaulted and intimidated local citizens. On 25 December 2004, the group was also responsible for the assault of five human rights activists who were carrying out a fact-finding mission in the area.

In light of this, we ask that you write to the relevant authorities listed below and voice your concerns regarding this case. Please urge that a full investigation be conducted into the existence of the Defense Committee against Maoists. Such a group should not be receiving any military sponsoring whatsoever, as they are clearly violating the rights of Nepali citizens. Those within the group that are found to have committed torture and murder against Mr Chamar, must be brought to justice for their crimes. Likewise, those responsible for the torture and detention of the five human rights activists, should also be brought to justice. Please also remind the authorities that the group must not be allowed to intimidate nor threaten citizens, and must be made aware that they hold no legal authority whatsoever to carry out any form of policing.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:
?lt;br />Victims:
1. Mr Ram Kishore Chamar, 40, of Somani Village Development Committee 7.
2. Five human rights activists
3. Local villagers who are being subjected to intimidation and threat
Perpetrators: The Defense Committee against the Maoists

On 26 March 2005, members of the military-sponsored civilian militia group ‘Defense Committee against the Maoists’ cut the hand of Mr Ram Kishore Chamar and forced him to eat the flesh. They then burnt him and shot him dead. They had accused Mr Chamar of participating in a protest and not supporting the Defense Committee.

The Defense Committee, which has also termed itself the National Security Battalion Committee, has been overtly carrying weapons within the village confines. There they have been checking everyone entering the area. They have also been beating people from both the hill and terai (plains) regions when they have suspected them of either being Maoist or not supporting the Defense Committees objectives.

Such groups formed in the name of retaliating against the Maoists and backed by the security forces have been active for several months now. On 25 December 2004, one such vigilante group assaulted five human rights activists who had been conducting a fact-finding mission in relation to the killing of six alleged Maoists by the Defense Committee in Paklihawa. All five human rights activists were then handed over to the security forces and were released in the evening only after action was taken by local journalists.

In a joint statement issued by the five human rights activists on 29 January 2005, they stated that they were assaulted, threatened and mentally tortured by the security forces. The statement mentioned that they felt threatened by the Defense Committee, who were acting under the protection of the security personnel. They also said that that were forced to appeal for the protection of their lives and therefore they call for the punishment of their perpetrators.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or an email to the relevant authorities listed below and ask them to take immediate action into this case.

 

 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER