Archive ref no: NCA-18669
Document - Nepal: Further information on disappearance / fear for safety
PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 31/15/00
29 February 2000
Further information on UA 09/00 (ASA 31/09/00, 17 January 2000) - Disappearance/Fear for safety
NEPAL Suresh Ale Magar, university lecturer
Pawan Shrestha, civil engineer
Suresh Ale Magar and Pawan Shrestha were released on 26 February, more than eight weeks after they "disappeared".
The two men were seen being taken away in a police van on 23 December 1999, just after they had been released from Kathmandu Central Jail on the orders of the Supreme Court.
It is understood that they spent most of their time in illegal detention at the Western Region Armed Police Forces Section in Pokhara town, Kaski district. They had not been issued with a detention order, or taken to court. The Western Region Armed Police Forces Section is one of a number of secret places of detention around the country where people arrested on suspicion of being members or sympathizers of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN)(Maoist) are held in illegal custody.
No further action is required by the Urgent Action network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals. Those who wish to do so may send a final round of telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in English or your own language:
- welcoming the release of Suresh Ale Magar and Pawan Shrestha on 26 February 2000;
- urging that the police officers responsible for their "disappearance" be brought to justice;
- calling on the government to end the use of secret places of detention immediately.
APPEALS TO:
Rt Hon Prime Minister K P Bhattarai
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu
Nepal
Telegrams:Prime Minister, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 227 286 or 428 570
Salutation:Dear Prime Minister
Hon Purna Bahadur Khadka
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu
Nepal
Telegrams:Home Affairs Minister, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 241 942
Salutation:Dear Minister
Mr Achyut Krishna Kharel
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
GPO Box 407
Naxal
Kathmandu
Nepal
Telegrams:Inspector General of Police, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 415 593/415 594
Salutation:Dear Inspector General
COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Nepal accredited to your country.