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Previous Action Alerts 04/27/06
April 27, 2006
NEPAL: Journalists and writers arrested and detained following pro-democracy protests.
See below for Sample Letter of Appeal and full story from International PEN
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Full Story From International PEN
RAPID ACTION NETWORK
27 April 2006
RAN 15/06
NEPAL: Arrests of writers and journalists.
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned
for the safety of writers and journalists in Nepal, who have been amongst
those targeted by security forces in the violent suppression of
pro-democracy protests which began on 4 April 2006. International PEN is
shocked by the widespread arrests and ill-treatment of those participating
in and covering the protests, but welcomes King Gyanendra’s announcement on
25 April to restore multi-party democracy. PEN calls on the Nepali
authorities to release all those detained in violation of Article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nepal is a
signatory. PEN urges governments to continue to scrutinise the Nepali state
to ensure it takes all necessary steps to restore the human rights
provisions contained in the country’s Constitution and the international
treaties to which it is a state party.
Since demonstrations calling for democracy and human rights started on 4
April 2006, more than 200 Nepalese journalists and writers have been
arrested. Most have since been freed, but at least twenty are believed to
remain detained, many being held under 90-day detention orders. The
protests were violently suppressed by security forces, and dozens of
protestors have been injured and some killed. According to the Committee to
Protect Journalists (CPJ), Nepalese journalists reported on 25 April 2006
that security forces showed ‘more restraint in the period leading up to
King Gyanendra’s announcement that he will return executive power to the
country’s political parties. A curfew remained in force, but journalists
were on hand to report on the hundreds of thousands of protestors who
turned out on the streets… Despite efforts by the king’s appointed
government to inhibit independent coverage by harassing, arresting and
assaulting journalists, Nepal’s press has taken a lead in reporting the
events of the recent nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations.’
Amnesty International gives the following background:
‘King Gyanendra assumed total and direct executive authority on 1 February
2005. Since then, he and his officials have been responsible for serious
human rights violations, including the arbitrary arrest and detention of
thousands of critics, torture and ill-treatment of detainees, and severe
restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly. The army continues to
violate international human rights and humanitarian law in its war against
Maoist insurgents…
The Nepali government’s abusive behaviour took a turn for the worse on the
eve of pro-democracy protests called for 6 - 9 April. Members of the police
and military, under the King’s direct command, have used excessive force to
respond to country-wide demonstrations, killing at least six people and
injuring hundreds of others. The authorities have detained thousands of
protesters. More than 800 continue to be detained under the Public Security
Act, many without access to lawyers or their families.’
For full report see http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA310192006
Please send appeals:
- protesting the arrests of writers and journalists for participating in or
covering the recent pro-democracy demonstrations;
- calling for the immediate release of all writers and journalists
detained in Nepal in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nepal is a signatory.
- welcoming the King’s announcement to reinstate executuve powers to the
country’s political parties, and urging the Nepali state to ensure it takes
all necessary steps to immediately restore the human rights provisions
contained in the country’s Constitution and the international treaties to
which it is a state party.
APPEALS TO:
His Majesty the King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
C/O The Chief of Protocol Division
Dr. Rambhakta P.B.Thakur
Protocol Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Shital Niwas
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax (C/O the Foreign Ministry): 011 977 1 4423951 / 4416016
Salutation: Your Majesty
Minister Kamal Thapa
Minister of Home Affairs
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: 011 977 1 4211 232
Salutation: Dear Minister (please keep trying)
Minister Niranjan Thapa
Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: 011 977 1 4220 684 (please keep trying)
Salutation: Dear Minister
Shyam Bhakta Thapa
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters, GPO Box 407
Naxal
Kathmandu, Nepal
Fax: 011 977 1 4415 593
Salutation: Dear Inspector General
For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN
Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London
WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email:
cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk