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Shyam Shrestha

Human rights violations continue in Nepal

On 1 January 2007, about sixty participants in a protest in Nepal organized by the Citizen’s Movement for Peace and Democracy, against the delay in promulgating the interim constitution, were arrested. According to reports, police broke up the protest, using excessive force immediately after the activists had gathered outside the Prime Ministers residence.

Shyam Shrestha, human rights defender and journalist, Mahendra Bista Secretary General of the Federation of Nepalese Journalist’s and Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey, were amongst those arrested. The Federation of Nepalese Journalist’s strongly condemned the arrest of the human rights defenders and journalists, and stated: "The act is against the spirit of people's movement and the people's fundamental right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression."

Later that evening, the protesters were released. This is the first time since the restoration of democracy, of April 2006, that civil society representatives have been arrested. These arrests contravene the commitment to respect human rights as articulated in the peace accords signed by the Government and Maoists, in November 2006.

Nepalese human rights defenders released

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

Nepalese denied the right to defend their rights

Front Line Press Release

24 April 2006, 19.00 (Kathmandu time)

At the end of a five-day mission to Nepal, Front Line Deputy Director, Andrew Anderson, expressed the organization’s deep concern about the brutal repression of those peacefully demonstrating for the restoration of human rights and democracy in Nepal as well as the continued detention of more than 200 human rights defenders. Over recent days, Front Line has met with Nepalese human rights defenders, including some of those detained, and monitored the protests in the Kathmandu area.

Front Line met with Krishna Pahadi, Shyam Shrestha and Dr Devendra Raj Panday at their places of detention during the last two days. It is outrageous that these human rights defenders continue to be arbitrarily detained without charge or trial for more than 90 days.

“If the authorities are serious about seeking a peaceful resolution of the crisis they should immediately release these three, and all those detained illegally for their defence of human rights,” said Andrew Anderson.  Read More

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