Prachanda
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Nepal

Dear Prachanda,

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.

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