UN urged on Nepal abuses Printer Friendly | Email Article | RSS GENEVA (Reuters) - Human rights groups are calling for United Nations action against alleged civil liberties violations in Nepal as the capital Kathmandu braces for pro-democracy rallies. Nicolas Howen, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), said on Friday violence against democracy advocates was intensifying and called on the U.N. to condemn Nepal for violating human rights and install rights monitors in the country. Over 600 activists, journalists, lawyers and students have been detained while carrying out peaceful activities since Nepal's King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and suspended civil liberties on February 1, the ICJ, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a statement. Howen, speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights annual session in Geneva, urged the U.N. to appoint a special investigator to probe reported abuses. "We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," Howen said. "The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisations and the media are still intimidated and controlled." Nepal braced for more pro-democracy rallies on Friday even though rallies are banned and authorities have vowed to stamp out protests against King Gyanendra's sacking of the multi-party government and seizure of power. Gyanendra has said he took power to crush a Maoist revolt and blamed bickering politicians for failing to end the insurgency in which more than 11,000 people have been killed since 1996. Arjun Karki, president of the Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Nepal, warned that a crackdown on demonstrators could deepen the cycle of violence. "If they are suppressed, those who support democracy are forced to use other means," he said. "So those who repress democracy should really consider their actions first." Human Rights Watch spokeswoman Loubna Freih called on members of the U.N. Commission, especially the United States, to support a Swiss initiative to condemn Nepal for its abuses. The European Union, the UK and Denmark already support the Swiss plan, she said. In Nepal overnight, soldiers killed at least 18 Maoist rebels after the insurgents attacked their base in the deadliest clash in the past five weeks. The Maoists control large parts of Nepal's countryside and want to establish a communist republic. Peace talks have failed to get off the ground and the king seems determined to use the poorly equipped army to crush the rebels even though defence experts say it faces a protracted guerrilla war because of the mountainous terrain.
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'''April 8, 2005'''


More than 500 activists, journalists, lawyers and students were arrested Friday in Nepal, whilst protesting against King Gyanendra's take-over of the country's government. Human rights groups have now called for a UN investigation into alleged abuses of civil liberties after King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency at the start of February.

"We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," Nicolas Howen, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists, said. "The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisations and the media are still intimidated and controlled." 

The state of emergency was initiated to properly tackle Nepal's Maoist rebels who, according to King Gyanendra, seek to replace the monarchy with a communist republic. Fears are now growing that violence in the country will continue to increase and insurgency in Nepal has claimed the lives of at least 11,000 people since 1996. Arjun Karki, president of the Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Nepal said today: "If they are suppressed, those who support democracy are forced to use other means. So those who repress democracy should really consider their actions first."

Elsewhere in Nepal today, soldiers repelled a rebel assault on one of their bases in the country's northwest, say reports.