Krishna Pahadi, Nepal

On 1 February 2005, King Gyanendra of Nepal dismissed the Government, assumed executive power, announced a state of emergency, and took direct control. Press and publication rights were immediately suspended along with freedom of opinion and expression as well as other human rights.

The royal military takeover was a pre-planned military operation. Armed personnel barged into newsrooms, TV and radio stations, and demanded that all work be stopped. Phone and internet lines were cut for several days, and mobile connections were suspended for several months. The intimidation of human rights defenders reached a climax.

Human Rights and Peace Society [HURPES], a national organization of 56 district committees and more than 4000 members, working for the protection and promotion of human rights, peace and democracy. HURPES opposed the royal takeover by issuing a statement and inviting civil society organisations to take part in a discussion on future strategy. HURPES decided to organise the first demonstration to protest against the royal takeover on 10 February in Kathmandu.

On 9 February, plain clothes police officers came to the HURPES office and arrested me. I was detained for 145 days under the Public Security Act [PSA]. After completing 90 days, the authorities extended my detention period for another 90 days.

During the first week of my detention, we were not allowed to read any books, no writing materials were available and some other restrictions were imposed by the authorities.

Front Line wrote a letter to the King expressing concern about our detention. My case was raised by Amnesty International, the Irish and UK governments, the European Union and other international actors. These efforts put pressure on the authorities to change their behaviour and improve our conditions of detention.

I met with representatives from AI in prison, including Colm O’ Chuanacháin, Secretary-General of AI's Irish Section. Front Line sent a representative, Roger Clark, but the authorities denied him access. AI adopted me as a Prisoner of Conscience and campaigned around the world for my release. I would like to thank again AI and Front Line for their remarkable contribution to the protection of human rights defenders in Nepal.

The state of emergency was lifted on 29 April 2005. I was finally released in the first week of July. Since my release, there has been speculation that I may be arrested again.

On 25 July, a protest demonstration was organized by the newly-established Citizens Movement for Democracy and Peace [CMDP]. I was arrested again. Ironically, it was also the 25th time that I had been arrested for working in defense of human rights, peace, democracy and non-violence. I was released the next day.

The CMDP has since intensified its activities. It has organised numerous mass meetings in Kathmandu and other districts during which tens of thousands of people gathered to express their support for democracy. Frightened by this growing citizen's movement, the Government of Nepal - headed by the King - imposed prohibition orders in three locations. In other places, the security forces and local administration disturbed and dispersed crowds. Despite such obstacles, thousands of people gathered and journalists, doctors, lawyers, teachers, human rights defenders, and intellectuals have all become an integral part of the movement and offer great support.

I am involved in CMDP and address many mass meetings, which has led me to be so targeted by authorities. State-run newspapers have published a series of articles against defenders. A recent convention of chairs and vice-chairs of district development committees in the eastern region, passed resolutions which state that the growing activities of civil society is a threat to national existence and sovereignty. The vice-chair and ministers on the Council of Ministers openly criticised me. Recently the King accused foreign money of playing a role in unwanted activities in Kathmandu. Some newspapers interpreted the King's remarks as referring to political parties and civil society.

The Government introduced a new code of conduct for NGOs to try to intimidate them. Many ordinances have been introduced aiming to curb rights. The lack of the rule of law and the supremacy of the King are leading towards a difficult juncture where no one working for fundamental freedoms and human rights is safe.

But we must face the situation and continue our activities peacefully. Our dedication, devotion and determination is to bring peaceful change in Nepal, to secure the future of the next generation is our commitment.