Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of the escalating violence that is occurring in Nepal and the government’s decision to impose a curfew on the capital, Kathmandu, for the third consecutive day, as well as other areas, in an attempt to try to halt widespread protests. As reported in our previous appeal (UP-072-2006) King Gyanendra’s royal Government imposed a defacto emergency in Nepal late last week. 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, the government hoped, would prevent people from gathering in Kathmandu and protesting against the ruling of King Gyanendra. However, thousands of demonstrators in Nepal have defied the declaration and have flocked to the streets to voice their anger and opposition to the current situation in the country. Maoist rebels and opposition political parties have said they will intensify their campaigns.
In response to the demonstrators, the government and military have resorted to violence and mass arbitrary arrest and detention. Reports say that three people have died, with confirmation coming through that Mr. Bhimsen Dahal was killed in Pokhara after the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) opened fire on a group of demonstrators. Many others were injured as a result of the RNA’s actions and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
The government has also extended the curfew it imposed late last week, in a further effort to thwart an attempt by Opposition parties to hold a large demonstration against the King. The government has blamed the Maoist rebels for its actions and said that it is compelled to impose the curfew due to the Maoists trying to create an armed revolution. Along with extending the curfew in Kathmandu, the government has also imposed restrictions in other parts of the country including Chitwan, Pokhara, Butwal, Taulihawa and Bharatpur. Mobile phones have been cut and it is believed that land lines will likewise be cut soon.
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 deny 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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