UPDATE (Nepal): A further 600 persons arrested while engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout Nepal 

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: UP-017B-2006
ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest & detention, Democracy, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression, Human rights defenders, Rule of law, Torture,

[RE: UP-011-2006: NEPAL: Further arrests occur in Nepal’s escalating crisis; UA-036-2006: NEPAL: Further arrests in Nepal’s worsening political, security and
human rights crisis; UG-002-2006: NEPAL: Immediate intervention required in Nepal’s deepening political, security and human rights crisis; UP-012-2006: NEPAL: Widespread repression and mass arrests continue to take place in Nepal]
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UP-017B-2006: NEPAL: A further 600 persons arrested while engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout Nepal

NEPAL: Human rights defenders; democracy; freedom of assembly; freedom of speech; free and fair elections; arbitrary arrest and detention; torture; rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the worsening situation in Nepal. According to this information, a further 600 persons (that we are aware of) have been arrested while engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout the country, protesting against the return to autocratic direct monarchic rule and the seemingly endless human rights abuses that have occurred during the past 12 months.

The demonstrators arrested on 1 February 2006, include political leaders, professors, writers, teachers, an ex-minister, lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists. Hundreds of demonstrators have been injured and many hospitalised as a result of the repressive actions conducted by the security forces. The security forces have reportedly conducted violent baton charges and used stones, tear gas and water canons against the demonstrators. They have even opened fire with live ammunition in some cases, with at least one person, Uddhav Bahadur Singh, having been shot during a demonstration in Surkhet. This protestor was shot in the left leg and has been admitted to Surkhet Hospital for treatment. Some of the arrested demonstrators have reportedly been released, but many more remain in detention, adding to the large number of persons being held following similar arrests over the last two weeks.

No reasons have been given by the authorities for these arrests, and the arrested persons have not been provided with detention orders or been charged with any specific offences. The government has banned any form of assembly or demonstration in a large number of areas in Nepal, in an effort to stifle the legitimate pro-democracy movement and as a pretext for arresting persons engaged in such activities.

Of particular concern to the AHRC is that over 100 lawyers have been arrested while participating in the events to mark the one year anniversary of King Gyanendra’s royal coup. The lawyers arrested in Kathmandu have reportedly already been released. However, many of those detained in other districts are still being held, with some of their number having received three-month “preventive” detention orders under the draconian Public Security Act.

These further arrests, yet again, require immediate intervention.

List of those persons arrested:

1. Mahanta Thakur (Nepali Congress senior leader)
2. Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar (Left Front senior leader)
3. Raghu Panta (former Minister, UML)
4. Birodh Kahtiwada (former MP, UML)
5. Bijul Bishwakarma (former member of National Assembly, NC)
6. Bishnu Nisthuri (Federation of Nepalese Journalists, President)
7. Charan Prasain (Human Rights Organization of Nepal, President)
8. Harihar Birahi (Senior journalist)
9. Bidur Mainali (UML)
10. Kamala Thapa
11. Lok Ram Chettri
12. Surendra Timilsina
13. Kamal Paudel
14. Bharat Bhatta
15. Man Bahadur Lama
16. Sun Bahadur Malla
17. Prakash Barakoti
18. Narayan Datta Kandel
19. Raghunath Khulal
20. Rajya Laxmi Shrestha
21. Janu Ghimire
22. Shanta Pradhan
23. Nanda Krishna Joshi (Singer)
24. Ramesh Jang Sijapati
25. Santosh Pande
26. Bikram Bandhu Panday
27. Lalsen Lama
28. Thakur Singh Nemwang
29. Kamal Yadav
30. Tapta Singh Karki
31. Krishna Humangain
32. Bishnukanta Ghimire
33. Birendra Rai
34. Arun Rai
35. Bedh Nidhi Adikari
36. Chayan Devi Parajuli (NC)
37. Raja Ram Pudsaini
38. Suman Malla (Journalist)
39. Ramesh Bista (Cartoonist)
40. Mahendra Panday (Journalist)
41. Bharat Bhatta
42. Kanak Mani Dixit (Journalist)
43. Amar Dhakal
44. Rishi Dhamala (Journalist)
45. Gangdhar Parajuli (Journalist)
46. Hemanta Kafle (Journalist)
47. Surya Thapa (Journalist)
48. Binod Pahadi (Journalist)
49. Ramji Dahal (Journalist)
50. Kishor Shrestha (Journalist)
51. Sanjay Santoshi Rai (Journalist)
52. Nanda Rishi Naupane
53. Rupak Adhikari
54. Roshan Karki
55. Tirtha Neupane
56. Narendra Saud
57. Bishal Nepal
58. Yadav Devakota
59. Bharat Pokhrel
60. Dinesh Karki
61. Lila Ghimire
62. Amar Nath Dhakal
63. Lava Dhungana
64. Ujir Magar (Journalist)
65. Rojan Rai
66. Kedar Koirala (Journalist)
67. Krishna Dhungana
68. Gopal Khanal
69. Sarala Gautam
70. Ramesh KC

SURKHET DISTRICT

1. Bal Krishna Katel (Professor)
2. Bishnu Hari Sharma (Professor)
3. Parma Prasad Thani (Lawyer)
4. Dandi Prasad Sharma (Central Committee Member of Teachers Union)
5. Debendra B.C.Dist (Committee Member of CPNUML)
6. Charka Padi Sharma (Committee Member of CPNUML)
7. Yam Lal Kandel (Ex-minister)
8. Bal Krishna B.C. (Ex-chairman of district development committee)
9. Nandaa Sharma (F) Dist. (Committee Member of CPNUML)
10. Tika Ram Subedi (Member of CPNUML)
11. Khada Nanda Kandel (Journalist)
12. Mahendra Sharma (Central Committee Member of Teachers Union)
13. Chudamani Kandel (Member of CPNUML)
14. Khagendra Thani (Member of NC)
15. Ghanshyam Pandey (Dist. President ANNFSU)
16. Manoj Gautam (Member, ANNFSU)
17. Meg Raj Sharma (Member, ANNFSU)
18. Chabi Sigdel (NC Democratic)
19. Maya Ram Kandel (Do)
20. Kashi Ram Jaisi (Do)
21. Kamal Raj Regmi (Do)
22. Hirdaya Ram Thani (NC, ex-member of the parliament)
23. Ananta Poudel (NC)
24. Top Bahadur Rawat (NC Democratic)
25.  Ratna Bikram Pyasi (United Janmorcha Nepal)
26. Naba Raj Koirala (Nepal Labor Farmer Party, central committee member)
27. Bam Bahadur Shahi (Do)
28. Sher Bahadur Rana (Teacher)
29. Tishi Prasad Sharma (District secretary of CPNUML)
30. Kul Dip Bhatta (CPNUML)
31. Chumani Sharma (Do)
32. Matrika Timilsina (NC)
33. Amrit Kumar Khatri Akhil (Nepal National Independent Student Union)
34. Saroj Kumar Majhi (Nepal Student Union)
35. Yangya Bahadur Khatri (NC Democratic)
36. Yangya Bdahdur B.C. (Do)
37. Dharma Prasad Acharya (Do)
38. Shiva Prasad Gautam (Do)
39. Dhan Kumar Kandel (CPNUML)
40. Dila Ram Giri (Do)
41. Nagendra K.C. (Nepal Student Union)
42. Dev Kumar Subedi (NC)
43. Yangya Raj Karki (Do)
44. Krishna Lal Dahal (Do)
45. Basanta B.C. (Do)
46. Binod Koirala (Do)
47. Yam Prasad Poudel (Do)
48. Dilli Prasad Devkota (Do)
49. Hari Mahatara (Progressive Writers Committee)
50. Moti Ram Sharma (Human Rights Defender)
51. Lacchi Ram Buda (Journalist and INSEC representative)
52. Gorakh Acharya (Do)
53. Hem Raj Sharma ( Do)
54. Prem Rizal (Do)

MORANG DISTRICT

1. Dilip Pokharel (journalist)
2. Mahendra Bista (journalist)
3. Vijaya Pathak (journalist)
4. Ramesh Chandra Poudel (CPN-UML)
5. Yuba Nath Dhakal (CPN-UML)
6. D P Rai (CPN-UML)
7. Raj Kumar Ojha (ANNFSU-UML)
8. Tirtha Raj Ghimire
9. Sudhir Aryal (NC)
10. Muskan Karki
11. Bala Ram Neupane (CPN-UML)
12.  Tilak Dhakal (CPN-UML)
13. Pashupati Luitel (CPN-UML)
14. Shyam Shrestha (CPN-UML)
15. Yograj Pokharel Tarundal
16. Kanchanmala Sharma (ANNFSU-UML)
17. Manoj Rajbansi
18. Durga Poudel
19. Narayan Khatiwada
20. Yubaraj Basnet

BAGLUNG DISTRICT

1.   Krishna Pathak (UML)
2.   Laxmi Paudel
3.   Jeevan Aacharya
4.   Hari Prasad Sharma
5.   Yam K.C.
6.   Raghunath Subedi
7.   Tanka Prasad Sharma, Kandel
8.   Jagadish Chandra Upadhyay
9.   Hari Bahadur Khadka
10. Badri Bahadur K.C.
11. Surya Magar
12. Mani Bhadra Kandel, NC (D)
13. Jeet Bahadur Sunar
14. Dipendra Thapa Magar
15. Phanindra Gautam

PARBAT DISTRICT

1.  Moti Prasad Paudel (UML)
2.  Bikash Lamsal
3.  Lokendra Jung Lamichhane
4.  Navaraj Gurung , NC (D)
5.  Lekh Bahadur Gurung
6.  Krishna Biswakarma, Peoples Front
7.  Arjun Prasad Joshi, NC
8.  Kmal Parajuli
9.  Davin gurung
10. Ram Bastola
11. Lekhnath Paudel

DHANKUTA DISTRICT

1.  Parshu Ram Nepal (INSEC District Representative)
2.  Tikaram Chemjong (Secretary, CPN UML, Dhankuta)
3. Hari Adhikari (Chairperson, NC)
4. Deepak Budhathoki (DCM, UML)
5. Madan Aryal (Janamorcha)
6. Yuvraj Basnet
7.  Narendra Rai (Editor, the Dhankuta Herald)  (injured)
8.  Bijaya Santoshi Rai (Chairperson, FNJ) (injured)

KASKI DISTRICT

1.  Shalik Ram Poudel (UML Activist)
2.  Shirjana Sharma (UML Activist)
1. Govinda Poudel (UML Activist)
2. Krisna Bahadur Nepali (UML Activist)
3. Mitra Kumar Subedi (UML Activist)
4. Dambar Ranavat (UML Activist)
5. Padma Panta (UML Activist)
6. Mahadev Gurung (NC Activist)
7. Mukti k.c. (NC Activist)
8. Ramji Kunwar (NC Activist)
9. Nabin Babu Poudel (NC Activist)
10. Netrapani Neupane (NC Activist)
11. Krishna Karki (NC Activist)
12. Bishnu Hari Baral (NC Activist)
13. Hari P. Lamichhne (NC Activist)
14. Shandya Khattri (NC Activist)
15. Netra P. Tiwari (NC Activist)
16. Bir bahadur shahi
17. Surya Ghimire
18. Mohan Banjara
19. Muktiram Adhikari
20. Nawaraj wagle
21. Padam Baral
22. Khagraj Paudel
23. Madhav Bastola
24. Sharada Paudel
25. Sharada Parajuli
26. Mitra Kumari Gurung
27. Bishnu Koirala
28. Dandapani Acharya
29. Shalikram sapkota
30. lekhnath Paudel
31. Tek bahadur Karki
32. Nanda tiwari
33. Hemraj Adhikari

SYANGJA DISTRICT

1. Buddhi sagar Bhandari
2. Arjun subedi
3. Kedar Aryal
4. Bishnu Gurung
5. Prem Narayan Paudel
6. Chiranjivi Bhandari
7. Lok raj sharma
8. Suman Aryal
9. Dhaka Ram Aryal
10. Dhan bahadur B.K.
11. Rishi Kafle
12. Bishnu Upadhyaya
13. Islam Miya
14. Ganesh Pathak
15. Deepak Pathak
16. Suresh Pokhrel
17. Shalikram Pathak
18. Narayan Aryal
19. Jagannath Bhattrai
20. Dhirlal Pande
21. Prem gurung
22. Pareshowar Neupane
23. Dut bahadur Pangeni
24. Indra bahadur Rana
25. Shiva Sharma

THE FOLLOWING ARE THOSE (WHO WE ARE AWARE OF) ARRESTED FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY:

1. Dhanusha- 61
2. Rautahat- 52
3. Surkhet- 50
4. Jhapa- 44
5. Saptari- 44
6. Sindhuli- 35
7. Kaski- 35
8. Bardiya- 33
9. Sankhuwasabha- 30
10. Siraha- 26
11. Nuwakot- 26
12. Bara- 21
13. Achham- 19
14. Sarlahi- 18
15. Pyuthan- 15
16. Dang- 13
17. Baglung- 13
18. Panchthar- 12
19. Dolakha- 10
20. Parsa- 10
21. Taplejung- 9
22. Sunsari- 9
23. Kanchanpur- 8
24. Kailali- 8
25. Udayapur- 8
26. Dhankuta- 6
27. Morang- 2
28. Dadeldhura- 2
29. Rupandehi- 1

Meanwhile, a protester, Uddhav Bahadur Singh has been shot injured by security persons in Surkhet. He has got bullet on his left leg and has been admitted at Surkhet Hospital for treatment.

ARRESTED LAWYERS

1. Subas Newang
2. Yogendra Shangraula
3. Umesh Kuikel
4. Mahesh Shrestha
5. Om Thapalia
6. Bharat KC,   Dolakha
7. Baburam poudel,  Nawal parasi
8. Lal Bahadur Jagri,  Dadeldhura
9. Shree Krishna Subedi,  Pyuthan
10. Ramesh Prasad Rajbhandari, Pyuthan
11. Churamani Bhusal, Pyuthan
12. Ashok Pokhrel,  Jhapa
13. Narayan Parajuli, Jhapa
14. Prama Prasad Thami, Surkhet
15. Ram Chandra Subedi, Rajbiraj
16. Surendra Yadav, Rajbiraj
17. Ram K Yadav, Rajbiraj
18. Gopal Shah, Raj.
19. Shyam Pd. Sharma, Raj.
20. Shivanath Shah,  Raj
21. Durgananda Choudhary, Raj
22. Shiv Nath Shah, Raj
23. Hari Pd. Yadav, Raj
24. Deepak Kumar Shah, Raj
25. Jai Kumar Goiat, Raj
26. Laxmi Choudhary, Raj.
27. Surendra Prasad Shah, Raj
28. Dhrub Dev, Raj
29. Udit Narayan  Yadav, Raj
30. Bhoj Raj Sharma , Raj
31. Rames Shah,  Raj
32. Shyam Pokhrel, Raj
33. Hem Narayan Choudhary, Raj
34. Manoj Dev, Raj
35. Satyanarayan Shah, Raj
36. Bhupendra Yadav, Raj
37. Dev Narayan Choudhary, Raj
38. Punya Prasad Yadav, Raj
39. Bimal K Shah , Raj.
40. Sanjaya Kumar Dev Raj
41. Keshab Prasad Das, Raj
42. Shiva Narayan Yadav, Raj
43. Om Prakash Choudhary, Raj
44. Hareram Yadav, Raj
45. Santosh Raj Dhakal, Raj
46. Krishna Mohan Chourasia, Raj
47. Dharemndra Yadav, Raj
48. Dilip Kumar Choudhary , Raj
49. Durgananda Choudhary, Raj
50. Ram Chandra Subedi, Raj
51. Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, Raj
52. Sujit Pokharel, Raj

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities listed below voicing your concern for the current situation in Nepal.

 

 

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

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear _______________,

NEPAL: A further 600 persons arrested while engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout Nepal

I write with dismay at learning of yet another 600 persons having been arrested while engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout Nepal. These new arrests, as you will be aware, add to the large number of persons being held following similar arrests over the last two weeks

I am aware that the demonstrators arrested on 1 February 2006, include political leaders, professors, writers, teachers, an ex-minister, lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists. Hundreds of demonstrators have been injured and many hospitalised as a result of the repressive actions conducted by the security forces. The security forces have reportedly conducted violent baton charges and used stones, tear gas and water canons against the demonstrators. They have even opened fire with live ammunition in some cases, with at least one person, Uddhav Bahadur Singh, having been shot during a demonstration in Surkhet. This protestor was shot in the left leg and has been admitted to Surkhet Hospital for treatment. Some of the arrested demonstrators have reportedly been released, but many more remain in detention. 

That these persons have been arrested in the first instance is of great concern. That no reasons have been given by the authorities for these arrests, and the arrested persons have not been provided with detention orders or been charged with any specific offences is truly alarming. The government has banned any form of assembly or demonstration in a large number of areas in Nepal, in an effort to stifle the legitimate pro-democracy movement and as a pretext for arresting persons engaged in such activities.

I am particularly disturbed by the news that over 100 lawyers have been arrested while participating in the events to mark the one year anniversary of King Gyanendra’s royal coup. While the lawyers arrested in Kathmandu have reportedly already been released, many of those detained in other districts are still being held. Three-month “preventive” detention orders under the draconian Public Security Act have also been meted out to many.

In light of this, I call on the Nepalese authorities to take immediate steps to bring an end to the disastrous events that have taken place in the country in the past two weeks. The repression of the democratic movement in Nepal must cease unconditionally, and all those detained in recent weeks released if the charges against them are not legitimate.

I trust your intervention will be forthcoming.

Yours sincerely,

-------------------------------

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:

1. His Majesty King Gyanendra
Narayanhity Royal Palace
Durbar Marg 
Kathmandu 
NEPAL
Tel: 977 14 413577/227577
Fax: 977 14 227395/ 411955

2. Colonel Pankaj Karki
Officer of Royal Nepal Army Human Rights Cell
Human Rights Cell
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu 
NEPAL
Telefax: + 977 14 245 020/226 292

3.  Laxmi Bahadur Nirala 
Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
Ramshahpath, Kathmandu 
NEPAL
Tel: +977 14 262548 (direct line)/262394 (through Personal Assistant)
Fax: +977 14 262582
Email: fpattorney@most.gov.np 

4. Mr. Nain Bahadur Khatri
Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission
Pulchowck, Lalitpur
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 5 547 974 or 525 659 or 547 975 
Fax: +9771 5 547 973
Email: nhrc@ntc.net.np 

5. Mr. Ian Martin
Chief of Mission
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights- Nepal Office
UN House, Pulchowk
Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: (977) 1 5524 366 or 5523 200
Fax: (977) 1 5523 991 or 5523 986
Email: hrinfounit@undp.org 

6. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the question of torture
Attn: Mr. Safir Syed
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 (general)
E-mail: ssyed@ohchr.org 

7. Ms Leila Zerrougui
Chairperson
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
c/o Miguel de la Lama
OHCHR-UNOG 
1211 Geneva 10 
SWITZERLAND 
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTENTION: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention)
Email: mdelalama@ohchr.org 

8. Ms. Hina Jilani 
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders 
Att: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88 
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 
E-mail: MChingSimon@ohchr.org
Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission