A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

COCAP – Defiance of Ban: 4/05/06

Imposed by government, and mass arrests

Kathmandu: April 5, 2006

 

The government took stern actions to foil the upcoming four days nationwide general strike called out by the seven parties alliance from 8-11 April 2006 by imposing ban on rallies and public gatherings. Police arrested 37 professionals including journalists, lawyers and professors on Wednesday morning as they were taking out a peaceful rally in defiance of prohibitory orders from New Baneshwore of Kathmandu. Those arrested include president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists Bishnu Nisthuri, general secretary Mahendra Bista, Chairman of Nepal Bar Association Sambhu Thapa among others.

 

Accordingly, 13 journalists, 13 lawyers, 5 professors, 3 doctors, 2 film artists and a civil movement activist were arrested from the peaceful protest rally organized by Professional Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD).

 

Likewise, during the afternoon several professional bodies staged demonstrations in defiance to the government unwelcome steps. Extending their solidarity with the seven party alliance, Nepal Journalist Association staged a peaceful protest really at New Road area of the capital from 2.45 PM to 4.00 PM .The rally comprised of journalists and physically disabled people who chanted slogan against autocracy and demanded restoration of democracy. The police intervened the rally by dispersing the crowd and made several arrests. A score of journalist and physically disabled people were arbitrarily detained from the site of demonstrations. Around 24 journalists were arrested and the police also apprehended five physically disabled.

 

Similarly, the student union associated with the seven party alliances demonstrated against the government actions and also to publicize the upcoming general strike successful staged rallies by shouting slogans, burning tyre and effigies outside the various college premises. The police made several indiscriminate arrests during students demonstration.

 

Arrested Journalists

1. Harihar Birahi

2. Bishnu Nishthuri

3. Mahendra Bista

4. Kosh Raj Koirala

5. Bharat Pokhrel

6. Yubaraj Acharya

7. Sudarshan Acharya

8. Binod Phahari

9. Navaraj Sharma

10. Krishna Humagain

11. Hemant Kafle

12. Gyanram Shrestha

13. Laxman Karki

14. Purna Basnet

15. Bal Kumar Nepal

16. Devraj Rimal

17. Nabin Pariyar

18. Baburam Dhakal

19. Ujjowal Acharya

20. Damodar Prasad Acharya

21. Kanak Mani Dixit

22. Dharmendra Jha

23. Rajendra Aryal

24. Bimal Gautam

25. Govinda Chaulagain

26. Prakash Silwal

27. Lila Raj Khanal

28. Nirmala Sharma

29. Shiva Gauley

30. Shankar Lal Malla

31. Indra Bania

32. Roshan Rai

33. Ujir Magar

34. Kiran Pokhrel

 

Arrested Physically Disabled

1. Bhoj Raj Shrestha

2. Dhruba Hari Neupane

3. Rukhmagat Neupane

4. Gobind Acharya

5. Deepak Koirala

 

Arrested Students

1. Trichandra-6

2. ASCOL-6(from hostel)

3. Balmiki-9

4. Bishwo Bhasa Campus-3

5. Patan Multiple Campus-3

6. Pasupati Campus Chabail-3

 

Professors:

1. Bhupati Dhakal

2. Krishna Khanal

Legal Professionals

1. Sambhu Thapa

2. Sherbhadur KC

3. Madhav Baskota

4. Ramesh Baral

5. Basudev Acharya

6. Yogendra Upadyaya

7. Ishowi Bhattarai

8. Kamal Itani

9. Navaraj Khatiwada

10. Hari Uprety

11. Hariram Silwal

12. Pravin Kharel

13. Yogendra Adhikari

 

Artists

1. Nilhari Kafle

2. Hom Subedi

 

College Teacher

1. Bimal Aryal

 

On behalf of COCAP Human Rights Monitoring Team.