Nearly 100 activists arrested on Human Rights Day

December 10, 2005
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As International Human Rights Day is being observed around the world, Nepal police have arrested nearly 100 rights activists and professionals while they were taking part in a peaceful demonstration calling for restoration of peace and democracy in the country Saturday afternoon.

Police using water cannon to disperse the human rights activists and civil society members who tried to defy..

Police using water cannon to disperse the human rights activists and civil society…
Police intervened into the rally when the rights activists tried to enter into the Ratna Park in the city centre, which is declared as restricted area by the government.

A petition is pending at the Supreme Court that challenges the government’s decision to declare Ratna Park, among others, as the restricted area.

Activists and professionals chanted slogans denouncing police intervention as police used water canons on peaceful demonstrators in the month of December.

Noted rights activists Krishna Pahadi, coordinator of the Citizens Movement for Peace and Democracy Dr Devendra Raj Panday, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bishnu Nisthuri and rights activist Malla K Sundar are among those arrested during the protest.

A group of activists later joined the demonstration at Ratna Park-Bhotahity corner. They were also taken into custody by the police.

Over 30 activists including president of Human Rights Organisation of Nepal, Charan Prasai, general secretary of Nepal University Teachers Union Rameswor Upadhyay, former vice chancellor of Tribhuvan University Navin Prakash Jung Shah, former president of FNJ Taranath Dahal and activists affiliated to Dalit Students Union are being kept at the ward police office at Singha Durbar. Dahal told Nepalnews over phone that activists are organizing a function within the custody to mark the international human rights day.

Some 70 activists are being detained at the No. 2 battalion of the Armed Police Force at Maharajgunj. Those detained at the police barrack include president of NGO Federation of Nepal Dr Arjun Karki, president of Human Rights Alliance Nepal Gauri Pradhan, lawyer Mrs Sapana Pradhan Malla and chairman of Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) Subodh Raj Pyakurel.

Talking to Nepalnews over phone from the custody, Pyakurel alleged that it was the state policy to violate human rights in the country. “This is a planned attack against human rights activists. The history is witness that those who suppress people’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are swept away sooner than later. They may also have to face people’s court,” he warned.

Right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the country’s constitution as well as international human rights principles.

In a message on the human rights day today, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Niranjan Thapa said the royal government was committed to uphold human rights principles in the country.