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ROYAL BLOOD IN THE HANDS OF KING GYANENDRA The human rights situation in Nepal is in a state of emergency. 237 political leaders and activists and 29 human rights defenders have been arrested since 1 February 2005 . This was the recent report from Asian Human Rights Center (AHRC/urgent appeal/ 18 Feb 2005 ). With the climate of fear rising to a real high temperature, the numbers of people being tortured, harassed, arbitrarily arrested and made to disappear are feared to get higher. And the international community may not get the real picture, with the national media being gagged, and those journalists brave enough to report have been arrested, while others continue to be subjects of harassment. The situation in Nepal now since the Royal take over in 1 February 2005 brings déjà vu – when King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency in the country in 2001-2002. The King was not satisfied then with how the government was unable to contain the Maoist insurgency. At that time, reports would have it that Nepal experienced unprecedented human rights violations - there were reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings and disappearances of activists, journalists, human rights lawyers and Maoists sympathizers. There were numerous reports of women being raped. Thousands of people have disappeared. And today, we hear the same song being sung by the King, and the people of Nepal feel the same chill in their bones. The democratic structure has been completely abolished in order to set up democracy. This is the royal promise – three years under his direct rule and he will bring peace and democracy to Nepal . But as history would teach us, state of emergency means state impunity for gross human rights violations and anti-democratic practices. Democratic structures built on deaths, arrests, tortures of the very people who genuinely struggle for democracy, will be very shaky, and will easily be toppled by masses of people. And that is also one history lesson we should never forget – that people ’s power is strong enough to topple towers of power. In our region, we have the experience of the Filipino people ’s power in 1986 when it brought down the 20 year-Marcos dictatorship; and in 2000, ousted the corrupt Estrada administration. The Indonesian people power put to an end to the 32 years of Suharto dictatorship in 1998. Thus, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) salutes the courage of women and men human rights defenders in Nepal . Their work in this dark moment offers light of hope for the thousands of masses living in fear and uncertainty. We express our solidarity with our sisters and comrades in All Nepalese Women Association (ANWA), member of APWLD and our comrades in All Nepalese Peasant Association (ANPA), a close ally in our struggle for food sovereignty. Meanwhile, the international community has an important role to play. Let us – : echo the call of the people of Nepal to release all political prisoners unconditionally and immediately; : demand that fundamental human rights of Nepalese be respected and upheld by the monarchy and the Royal Nepalese Army, at all times and without any condition. Restrictions on the basic right to assemble, to press freedom, among others should be lifted. Democratic structures, particularly an independent Parliament and media be restored; and : call for the end of state impunity on gross human rights violations. Independent investigations from the international community should take place immediately. APWLD supports the call for establishing a mission of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal to protect human rights defenders, support the National Human Rights Commission and strengthen the judiciary. The international community should also make the governments supporting the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) through military aid accountable for their role in perpetuating its power and control. While India , which has supplied RNA helicopters, guns and other military equipment, has declared indefinite suspension of its military aid, the US and UK have yet to do anything concrete apart from issuing rhetoric. US, with its 1.5 million dollars defen se assistance; and UK , with its 12 million dollars should be condemned for their continuing support to RNA. They, too have royal blood in their hands. Moreover, APWLD calls on the progressive forces of the international community to remain in solidarity with the peoples’ movement in Nepal , as well as in other countries, who continue their struggle for justice, peace and democracy. February 22, 2005 |