Archive ref no: NCA-18928
Document - Open letter regarding human rights violations by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Ref.: T/ASA 31/CPN-Maoist/2004.04
ASA 31/165/2004
Prachanda
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Nepal
17 September 2004
Dear Prachanda,
Open letter regarding human rights violations by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
I am writing to express Amnesty International’s concern about recent abductions by members of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (Maoist).
The following people have reportedly been taken captive by CPN (Maoist) members and their fate or whereabouts remain uncertain:
1.
Premsingh Bohara (aged 57) is the headmaster Mahakali Secondary School, Kanchanpur
district. A witness reports that two CPN (Maoist) members came to his home at around noon on 3 June and said that they needed to ask him some questions. They then reportedly took him away on a motorbike. His family have received a report that he may have been accused by the CPN (Maoist) of corruption.
2.
Jeev Nayaran Neupane (aged 45) lives in Gulmi district and is an activist in the Communist
Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) which is one of the mainstream political parties. He was reportedly taken away by CPN (Maoist) members from his home in Gulmi district at 8.30pm on 14 August.
3.
Bishnu Bahadur Aryal (aged 42) is a teacher from Aslewa Village Development Committee
(VDC), Gulmi district. He was reportedly abducted around 4pm on 16 August from Gopal Pandey Jaise School, where he worked.
4.
Om Jung Sahi is a CPN - UML activist who was reportedly abducted by CPN (Maoist)
members in Dailekh district on 26 August.
5.
Yogendra Yadav a farmer from Bagawatipur VDC, Mahotterri district was reportedly
abducted by members of the CPN (Maoist) at 5pm on 9 September.
6.
Dinesh Kumar Lawati, Lal Bahadur Gurung, Hari Maya Rai, Junu Lawati, Dilli
Hamchemjong, Injina Raiand Kopila Lawatiare leaders or activists of the United People’s Front (UPF) which is a mainstream political party. They were reportedly abducted by CPN (Maoist) members on 13 September in Chiling VDC, Panchthar district.
Amnesty International urges the CPN (Maoist) to guarantee the safety of all civilians currently under its control, including those mentioned above, and to release them immediately and unconditionally.
According to newspaper reports, several thousand civilians have been taken away for political education and sometimes for military training by the CPN (Maoist) over the past month. Over 2,000 of those people are reported to have been students who are typically taken from their schools along with their teachers. Although these civilians are usually released after a few days or weeks, Amnesty International is concerned that these abductions seriously undermine children’s right to education and the full development of their "personality, talents and… abilities", as guaranteed under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Amnesty International appeals to the CPN (Maoist) leadership to uphold previous commitments to abide by fundamental human rights standards and the Geneva Conventions. This means complying with minimum humanitarian standards contained in Article 3, common to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, which prohibit violence to life and person, the taking of hostages and summary executions of those not actively engaged in the conflict. In particular Amnesty International urges the CPN (Maoist) to refrain from "punishment" killings, to halt abductions and release all civilians currently held by CPN (Maoist) groups. The CPN (Maoist) should also take all possible measures to ensure that civilians are not caught up in hostilities, and make every effort to minimize the impact of the armed conflict and CPN (Maoist) activities on children and their right to education.
Yours sincerely,
Ingrid Massagé
Interim Program Director,
Asia & Pacific Program
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