The members of Britain-Nepal Academic Council have expressed opposition to the escalation in violence and the use of excessive force by security forces against people demonstrating for the restoration of democracy in Nepal.
A open statement issued by the Council said, “We condemn the brutality used by the security forces against peaceful demonstrators, including lawyers, professors, medical professionals, and others, as well as the killing of a score of people demonstrating for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.”
Stating that they are very concerned about the human rights violations by the government, which constitute a breach of Nepal’s obligations under the international law of human rights and under humanitarian law, they called upon the government to release without delay political leaders, civil society representatives, human rights activists, journalists, and all those held in detention without trial, and to instruct the security forces to allow people to express their demands for democracy without being threatened, harmed, or intimidated.
They appealed to the King and the leaders of all political forces within the country to initiate a dialogue to restore peace and democracy to the country.
They also called upon the Communist Party Nepal (Maoist) to declare an immediate ceasefire and to renounce violence as a method of political change.
“The CPN(M) must abide by the universally accepted norms of democracy and human rights and join the political process so that it is possible to work for peace, democracy, and prosperity in Nepal without the threat of coercion,” the statement adds.
Hundreds of pro-democracy activists have been injured and over 1,000 arrested from pro-democracy demonstrations called by seven political parties. nepalnews.com pb Apr 19 06