EU condemns use of force against pro-democracy activists; demands a civilian, democratic government

January 27, 2006
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The European Union on Friday has strongly condemned what it called the use of force to suppress the Nepali people’s exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.

EU flag (Photo source : bbc.co.uk)

In a statement issued today, the Council of the European Union said the EU gives its full support to what it called the moderate voices in Nepal working towards the goal of a sustainable peace based on the principles of a civilian, accountable and democratic government.

In its statement, the European Union said it continues to be deeply concerned over the situation in Nepal, where political forces seem to be moving towards an ever more severe confrontation and polarization thus increasing the deepening the political crisis.

Condemning what it called the use of force to suppress the Nepali people’s exercise of fundamental rights, the statement said, “The EU finds that the (Nepal) government’s extensive restrictions on the Nepali society, political parties and civil society over the last week are disproportionate and do not comply with Nepal’s obligations under the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”

On Wednesday, the National Human Rights Commission said that the security forces were using ‘excessive force’ in demonstrations organized by the political parties. “We have collected evidences of security men not only using ‘excessive force’ but also arresting and brutally beating up innocent people and passersby not involved in the protests,” the Commission said.

In its strong-worded statement, the EU called upon the King, the Nepal government and the security forces to immediately restore all political and civil liberties in accordance with Nepal’s international obligations, immediately release all political prisoners and human rights defenders, and ensure that political and civil rights, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, can be exercised peacefully.

The EU statement has come at a time when the royal government continues to detain hundreds of political activists, human rights activists and journalists across the country.

The statement further said the EU strongly condemns the resumption of Maoist violence, including the recent murder of an election candidate. The Maoists had shot dead a probable Mayoral candidate, Bijay Lal Das, in the southern town of Janakpur early this week.

The EU said it deeply regrets what it called the government’s failure to seize the opportunity provided by the Maoists’ unilateral ceasefire to declare a truce. “The EU underlines the obligation of all parties to fully respect international humanitarian law, including by way of protecting civilians and facilitating the access of humanitarian organisations seeking to aid affected persons, the none-point statement said. “The EU reiterates that what Nepal and its people urgently need is a cessation of armed hostilities as a first step in an inclusive and comprehensive peace process,” it added.

Commenting on the municipal polls slated on February 8, the EU said, “For the elections to be meaningful it is crucial that they be held in direct consultation with the political parties as part of an exercise to establish a full return to democracy. The fact that no such consultation has taken place means that the planned municipal elections will be another step backwards for democracy and are likely to further polarize positions.”

Early this week, senior opposition leader and former premier, G P Koirala, had called upon the international community including the United Nations not to recognize the municipal polls being conducted by the royal government.

Meanwhile, Nepali Times—a leading weekly newspaper—reported from Strasbourg, Belgium, Friday that the members of European Parliament from across the political spectrum were unanimous that “the king is taking the country down the wrong path and he must roll back his move before it is too late for the country and himself.”

To mark one year of the royal takeover, the sub-committee on Human Rights of the European Parliament has called for a hearing on Nepal on 20 February that will be attended by top officials and may issue a strong resolution against the royal takeover, the newspaper report said.

One of the largest bilateral donors to Nepal, the European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 European countries.