AI Index: ASA 31/139/2004
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Nepal
Dear Prachanda,
Open letter regarding attacks on civilians by Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
I am writing to express Amnesty International's serious concern at the continuing attacks on civilians by Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (Maoist) members, and to urge the CPN (Maoist) to respect human rights and abide by international humanitarian standards.
Amnesty International has received reports of at least ten
civilians killed by CPN (Maoist) members since 19 June. These
include, Ram Prasad Timilsina of Rajghat Village Development
Committee (VDC), Sarlahi, who was reportedly abducted from his home
and killed on 26 June; Ram Aygya Ray Yadav of Chautal VDC, Sarlahi,
who was reportedly abducted on 24 and killed on 25 June; Rajan
Bhattrai, of Muga VDC, Baikunthe, who was reportedly abducted on 20
June and shot on 24 June; Kailash Dhobi, of Bithuwa VDC,
Kapilvastu, who was reportedly killed and his decapitated body left
in a public square in Labani on 21 June; Hem Bahadur Nepali, of
Selang VDC, Sindhupalchowk, who was reportedly killed on 21 June,
having been abducted some days before; and Gori Maya Lama of Sankhu
VDC, Lalitpur, who was reportedly abducted on 23 May and killed on
or around 20 June. In addition it is reported that four civilians,
Bidyamani Devkota, Govinda Gautam, Sirsak Baral and Kausalya Giri,
were killed, and 18 others injured, on 19 June in Gobariya VDC,
Dang, when the bus in which they were travelling was caught up in a
CPN (Maoist) attack on an Armed Police Force patrol team. Fourteen
police officers also died during the encounter.
In addition to these killings, Amnesty International is concerned at the reported torture of civilians by CPN (Maoist) members in recent weeks. For example, it is alleged that on 22 June, eight members of the Dalit community had their legs crushed with hammers by CPN (Maoist) members in the playground of Pashupati Secondary School, Thalsa VDC, Achham, apparently as punishment for working for a local landlord. Similarly, on 27 June it was reported that Homnath Kandel, Headmaster of Janata Secondary School, Gulmi, had his hands crushed by CPN (Maoist) members who accused him of corruption.
It is also reported that CPN (Maoist) members continue to abduct
large numbers of civilians. For example, on 22 June 140 workers
were reportedly abducted from a cement factory in Sidali Chilaune
VDC, Udayapur. The majority of these workers were held until 25
June, apparently to participate in political meetings. Such group
abductions are taking place in addition to the ongoing abductions
of individuals by CPN (Maoist) members, a number of whom – as
in some of the cases above – are eventually killed. For
example, it is reported that on 23 June, Man Bahadur Tamang, a 78
year old man, was abducted from his home in Sankhupati VDC,
Kavrepalanchowk, by CPN (Maoist) members.
Amnesty International is particularly concerned at the impact of
CPN (Maoist) activities on children. We continue to receive regular
reports of large numbers of students and teachers being abducted
from schools to take part in political education sessions, which
can last from a few days to several weeks. Amnesty International
urges the CPN (Maoist) to respect their special protection duties
to children and to refrain from abducting children for any purpose,
including for political education. The widespread abduction of
children from school, and the resulting fear that discourages
children from attending school, 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 urges the CPN (Maoist) leadership to order an
immediate halt to all attacks on civilians and to uphold the
previous commitments made by yourself and Babu Ram Bhattarai, in
March 2004 and April 2003 respectively, to abide by fundamental
human rights standards and the Geneva Conventions. This means
complying with minimum humanitarian standards, as 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 or torture of
civilians, to halt abductions and release all civilians currently
held by CPN (Maoist) groups, to take all possible measures to
ensure that civilians are not caught up in hostilities, and to make
every effort to minimize the impact of the armed conflict and CPN
(Maoist) activities on children and their right to education.
Finally, Amnesty International would like to bring to your
attention the call by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
for the CPN (Maoist) to "respect the rights of all
people", as made in the Chairperson's Statement on
"Human Rights Assistance to Nepal" on 20 April
2004.
Ingrid Massagé
Interim Director
Asia & Pacific Regional Programme
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