Krishna Pahadi at a mass rally, hours after his release

Front Line Press Release

25 April 2006, 15.00 (Kathmandu time) Front Line welcomes the release from detention of Dr. Devendra Panday, Krishna Pahadi and Shyam Shrestha and other human rights defenders on the morning of 25 April 2006. Speaking at the Kathmandu District Court Krishna Pahadi said, “ This is only a first step, we must ensure that human rights and peace are strongly reflected in the unconditional constituent assembly which must be set up, and in the actions of the new Government.”

Unconfirmed reports indicate that all human rights defenders have been released. In welcoming the releases, Front Line Deputy Director, Andrew Anderson, in Kathmandu, stressed the need to guarantee the protection of human rights defenders and bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations.

Amongst those human rights defenders which Front Line witnessed being released at the Kathmandu District Court were:

Dr Mathura Prasad Shrestha Mr. Daman Nath Dhungana Mr. Laxman Aryal Mr. Kanak Mani Dixit Mr Charan Prasain Dr Madhu Ghimhire Dr Saroj Dhital Dr Sarad Onta Dr Mahesh Maskey Mr. Birma Aryal