Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is disturbed to know that King Gyanendra’s royal Government has imposed defacto emergency in Nepal. While thousands of people have taken to the street protesting against the royal government and its head King Gyanendra, the authorities have resorted to declaring various parts of the country and much of Kathmandu as restricted areas. The declaration, once in force put more restrictions upon peoples’ fundamental rights including, but not limited to freedom of movement, expression and speech.
The crackdown on peoples’ voice has already started costing life, of which the latest report is the death of Mr. Darshan Yadav who was killed by the security forces on 5 April 2006. The AHRC is shocked to know that the security forces are conducting random arrests of which the number of detainees arrested from Kathmandu alone has gone up to 500 within 24 hours. The AHRC is equally disturbed to know about the arrest of about 250 persons from outside Katmandu within the same time. The AHRC is worried that if the crackdown continues more life will be lost in Nepal, much of which be left unreported.
The crackdown on peoples’ voice for democracy will only help to worsen the situation. The arrest of doctors, political activists, lawyers, media personals and human rights activists have brought in international condemnation. The AHRC is concerned to know about the arrest of Dr. Kedar Narshingh who was arrested on his way to the hospital yesterday, and was beaten up by the security forces when he protested against the arrest, against which the doctors also have taken to the streets. Even bank and telecommunication employees have taken to the streets against
the royal government.
The AHRC urges you to add your voice to the global condemnation of the current situation in Nepal. Please call for an end to the current arbitrary arrests and detention taking place in the country and of the ensuing violence. Please ask the Nepalese authorities to take immediate steps to release all persons from detention who have been arbitrarily arrested during the crackdown in recent days. Security considerations should not be the basis for denying people their right to assemble peacefully and therefore there is no basis to the arrests made. Finally, please call on all authorities in Nepal to ensure that the ongoing repression of the democratic movement in the country be ceased unconditionally. For a suggested letter please refer to our previous appeal on the latest crackdown but amend accordingly (UA-117-2006).
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
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