Archive ref no: NCA-18689
Document - Nepal: Further information on Fear of torture / "disappearance" for students belonging to the All Nepal National Free Students Union
PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 31/004/2001
1 February 2001
Further information on UA 08/01 (ASA 31/001/2001, 15 January 2001) and follow-up (ASA 31/003/2001, 31 January 20001) - Fear of torture / "disappearance"
NEPAL Students belong to the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU)
Sailendra Devkota
Krishna Kumar Malla
Cheta Nath Dhungana
The three students named above were reportedly rearrested soon after their families deposited the required bail amount at the district administration office in Kathmandu.
After the families of Sailendra Devkota, Krishna Kumar Malla and Cheta Nath Dhungana deposited the required 10,000 Rupees (Rs) (US$135) per student on 1 February, the three were brought to the office by an inspector and a team of police officers. However, instead of being released they were taken away by police under the command of a different inspector. They are reportedly held at the Hanuman Dhoka police station, where it is feared they may be subjected to torture during interrogation.
The three had been among a group of 16 students remanded to Central Jail, Kathmandu, after they were brought before the Kathmandu district administration office on 31 January. None of the students were able to meet the required bail demand of 10,000 Rs at the time. The students had been arrested on 28 December 2000 and held in unacknowledged detention for 34 days. Some of them were allegedly tortured while in police custody at the Hanuman Dhoka police station.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters in English or in your own language:
- expressing concern that Sailendra Devkota, Krishna Kumar Malla and Cheta Nath Dhungana were re-arrested on 1 February, moments after their families deposited the required bail amount;
- urging the authorities to guarantee their safety and to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment while detained at the Hanuman Dhoka police station;
- calling on the authorities to allow the detainees immediate access to their relatives, lawyers and any medical treatment they may require;
- urging that members of the National Human Rights Commission be given immediate access to the detainees;
- urging that they be promptly charged with a recognizably criminal offence, or else immediately released.
APPEALS TO:
Rt Hon Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
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 Ram Chandra Poudel
Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu
Nepal
Telegrams:Home Affairs Minister, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 225 156
Mr Pradeep Shamsher J B Rana
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
GPO Box 407
Naxal
Kathmandu
Nepal
Telegrams:Inspector General of Police, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes: + 977 1 415 593 or 415 594
Salutation:Dear Inspector General
COPIES TO:
Nayan Bahadur Khatri
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Harihar Bhavan
Pulchowk
Lalitpur
Nepal
Telegrams: Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 525 842
Salutation:Dear Chairperson
and to diplomatic representatives of Nepal accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 15 March 2001.