[RE: UP-077-2006: NEPAL: Nepal under curfew; UP-072-2006: NEPAL: Defacto emergency declared in Nepal; UA-117-2006: NEPAL: Arrests made ahead of public rallies in the capital, Kathmandu]
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UP-079-2006: NEPAL: Demonstrations continue in the face of further arrests and violence
NEPAL: Arbitrary arrest and detention; freedom of assembly; right to peaceful protest; collapse of rule of law
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to update you on the escalating violence in Nepal as anti-monarchy protesters continue to defy curfew orders around the country. It has been learned that clashes in the capital, Kathmandu have led to more than 50 people being seriously injured and doctors have claimed that live rounds were used on those demonstrating in the streets. Likewise, police opened fire on protesters in Pokhara resulting in many injuries, including to two women who were not even involved in the demonstrations themselves. Though the demonstrations were due to end on Sunday, now that people have defied the government-clamped curfew and taken to the streets, it is believed that the protests may go on indefinitely.
The AHRC has also learned of the arrest of the following journalists from Bhirkutimandap who are now being detained in Singha Darbar Ward Police Station:
1. Mahendra Bista
2. Nirmala Thapa
3. Ramjee Dahal
4. Binod Pahadi
5. Kapil Kafle
6. Kishor Shrestha
7. Shyam Basnet
8. Punya Bhandari
9. Ishwori Neupane
10. Ishwori Wagle
11. Dambar Giri
12. Deepak Acharya
13. Ambar Nath Dhakal
14. Chenath Dhamala
15. Shree Babu Karki
16. Namaraj Sharma
17. Sapta Acharya
18. Sitaram Baral
19. Damodar Prasad Dawadi
20. Rohit Dahal
21. Surya Prasad Neupane
22. Devraj Rimal
23. Bharat Khadka
24. Santosh Kandel
25. Nandarishi Neupane
26. Bharat Pokharel
27. Krishna Humagain
28. Shiva Devkota
29. Rajendra Aryal
Amongst these Damodar Dawadi, Surya Prasad Neupane, Amar Nath Dhakal, Deepak Acharya, Punya Bhandari were injured when the police charged them wielding batons. Once detained, the journalists reported that they were kicked and punched.
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 regarding the recent clashes but amend accordingly (UA-117-2006).
Thank you.
Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
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