Kathmandu, December 10, 2005

Riot police today used water cannon against pro-democracy demonstrators and rounded up over 100 protesters marking the international human rights day from Bhotahiti and Ason, where protests are banned. Those detained include coordinator of the Civic Movement for Democracy and Peace, Dr Devendra Raj Pandey, rights activist Krishna Pahadi, Federation of Nepalese Journalists president Bishnu Nishthuri, poet Arjun Parajuli, editor of Mulyankan monthly Shyam Shrestha, Malla K Sundar, Gauri Pradhan, Arjun Karki, Sapana Pradhan Malla, Anandadev Bhatta and Sobhakar Budhathoki. However, all those detained were let off around 6 pm. Pahadi said around 50 detainees were kept at No 2 gan at Maharajgunj, 31 at Anamnagar Ward Police station and the others at Kamal Pokhari ward police station. A large number of riot police were deployed in front of Bhotahiti to prevent demonstrators from entering the prohibited Ratnapark area. Addressing a corner meeting held at Bhotahiti, Bhavani Prasad Kharel of National Human Rights Academy, lamented that the government “tried to douse the people’s fundamental rights to peaceful assembly with water cannon on the day when the people around the world are observing the United Nations declaration of human rights.” He said every citizen has the rights to live and peaceful assembly.

OHCHR to search people abducted during conflict

Bardiya, December 10, 2005

Chief of the mid-west regional office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), Andrew Mc Gregor, today said the office would launch a drive to know the whereabouts of those abducted by Maoists or government. He said the number of abductees belonging to the Tharu community is higher and that the OHCHR is searching them. “We have already established communication links with the Maoists and have asked them to provide a list of name of people they have abducted,” he said adding, both the government and the Maoists have frequently been requested not to violate people’s human rights. Gregor said this while addressing a programme organised to mark the 57th International Human Rights Day and 17th Radhakrishna Memorial Day at Gulariya by Tharu Jansewa Kendra. Central president of Peace Society Purushotam Dahal said fundamental rights of the people have been hijacked and that no one can be the head of the state against the people’s desire. “I urge the King to be serious towards the people’s desire and take further steps,” Dahal said, adding, people can exist even without a king but a king can not remain without the people. He asked the Maoists to implement the agreements of the 12-point pact.