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Mass Arrests of Leaders: 1/20/06

Repressive Measures Intensify in Nepal against Democratic Movement

January 20, 2006 (10.10pm), Kathmandu

The state's repressive measures have intensified with the imposition of an unnecessary curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur Districts on 20 January 2006 aimed at disrupting the planned peaceful protest against Nepal's autocratic regime organized by the seven political parties' alliance in Kathmandu as well as the ongoing and growing democratic movement. The regime further enhanced its authoritarian actions against the democratic movement in Kathmandu and throughout the country with prohibitory orders against mass gatherings (10 or more people), sit-ins, and other rights of peaceful assembly.

Hundreds of people have been stranded without food and water while trying to enter Kathmandu, due to the daytime curfew. Likewise, the imposition of the curfew has massively disrupted necessary services provided to ordinary people such as visiting health facilities, attending final exams of school, traveling to and from the airport, tending to their livelihood, etc…

The regime issued warrant papers for a three-month house arrest under the Public Security Act to senior political party leaders, including: Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala; CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal; CPN-UML standing committee members K. P. Sharma Oli and Bharat Mohan Adhikari; and to Nepal Workers and Peasant Party Chairperson Narayan Man Bijukshe. In addition to the 100+ political and civil society leaders arrested on 19 January 2006, the regime also carried out arrests of the leaders of Nepal Sadbhabana Party (Anandidevi) from the Sundhara area in Kathmandu at approximately 7.45am on 20 January 2006. These include: Rajendra Mahato, general secretary; Anil Kumar Jha, joint general secretary; Manish Kumar Suman, central committee member; Urmila Pande, general secretary of the Women's Forum; Raj Narayan Shah, chairperson of Youth Forum; Bindeswor Yadav, leader of the Student Forum. Sarita Giri, central committee member of the NSP (Anandidevi) was arrested from Tirpureswar area of Kathmandu at 6.00pm. The security forces have been continuously carried out the search the houses of political parties leaders and civil society leaders, including CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and President of NGO Federation Nepal Arjun Karki on 19 January.

In Kathmandu, more than 200 persons residing in Pashupati Pilgrimage boarding house were arrested, as they were preparing their meal at 9.00am. The police used axes to force entry into locked rooms where people were taking refuge. Similarly, the regime arrested a total of 27 students (20 from Education College and 7 from Birendra Multiple College) in Surkhet District by illegally entering the college premises. According to anonymous sources, a student of Education College, Tekendra Basnet, who is also a Central Committee member of the All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU), a sister organization of the UML, was reportedly injured from police brutality.

Security forces arrested four more people in Nawalparasi District on the night of 19 January 2006 that included: Sanjay Yadav of Nepali Congress (Democratic); District President of Nepal Trade Union Congress Radheshyam Pathak; District President of Nepal Sadvawana Party (Anandidevi) Satra Jeet Yadav; and Kailash Thakur from Human Rights Organization Nepal (HURON).

After the curfew ended at 6.00pm, leaders and cadres of political parties protested the imposition of the curfew and chanted slogans against the regime. They also organized rallies in various parts of Kathmandu, including New Baneswar, Tripureswar, Koteswar, Gaushala, etc. The security forces used excessive force to suppress the demonstration and arrested dozens. Among those arrested were two central committee members of the Nepali Congress, Ram Barn Yadav and Govinda Raj Joshi. While a nighttime curfew continues to remain in effect, protest programs are being organized to take place during the day on 21 January 2006.

Prepared by

Shobhakar Budhathoki

Steering Committee Member

Defend Human Rights Movement- Nepal

GPO Box 21179, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 977 1 4784574

E-mail: peace_sb@yahoo.com