(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: Report to the United Nations about human rights abuses United Nations urged to intervene to protect human rights in Nepal In a report given to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello today, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières) and the Nepalese […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release:
Report to the United Nations about human rights abuses
United Nations urged to intervene to protect human rights in Nepal
In a report given to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello today, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières) and the Nepalese organisation INSEC called on the international community and especially the United Nations to take an active role in defending basic rights in Nepal.
The two organisations called, in particular, for a fact-finding mission to be sent to Nepal as soon as possible to establish the extent of the ongoing violence and abuses, and for the High Commissioner to establish a permanent representative in Nepal.
The international community has so far remained silent on human rights violations in Nepal. Indeed, although lacking democratic legitimacy, the Nepalese government has received implicit support in its struggle against “Maoist terrorists”. But the civilian population and basic freedoms have been the first victims of this undeclared civil war.
The report contains the findings of a joint investigation in which Reporters Without Borders and INSEC obtained testimonies on human rights violations committed by both the Maoists and the security forces. Nearly 4,000 Nepalese have died in the course of the past 12 months. Thousands have been arrested under the anti-terrorist law and dozens of detainees have been tortured by the security forces. The Maoist rebels, for their part, have stepped up their policy of terror, mutilating and kidnapping members of the civilian population.
Journalists have been badly hit by this repression. More than 150 of them have been arrested by the security forces. The editor of a pro-Maoist publication died while being tortured by police in May, and a provincial correspondent was brutally murdered by Maoists in August. The Maoists continue to hold one reporter hostage.
The report is available on www.rsf.org.
