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Cut
off aid to Nepal
New
Delhi: Asian
Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today urged India, the United States
and European Union, especially United Kingdom, to freeze all assistance
especially military assistance to Nepal unless King Gyanendra lifts
emergency and restores all democratic freedoms and institutions
including the immediate release of all the political leaders and
lifting of the ban on press freedoms. King Gyanendra must also create
a national process involving all the democratic forces for holding
direct talks with the Maoists and take measures for implementation
of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 13 December
2004.
There has been no improvement
of the situation. More political leaders and students' leaders have
reportedly been arrested yesterday and many prominent political
and students' leaders had to go underground to escape from being
arrested. All the communication lines remain suspended.
“The
need to cancel military assistance is crucial as the King Gyanendra
in desperation may launch a military offensive against the Maoists,
if the Maoists do not react positively to his peace offer, in order
to create a dilemma for the international community whether to support
his authoritarian moves or the Maoists.” – stated Suhas Chakma,
Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.
“Any military offensive
against the Maoists will also intensify the repression on the democratic
forces who will have no other option but to align with the Maoists”
– warned Mr Chakma.
ACHR
also urged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to act decisively by
sending a special envoy to Kathmandu, and to request the Commission
on Human Rights must hold a Special Session on the situation of
human rights in Nepal to order to authorise sending of an international
team to Nepal to report to the forthcoming 61st session in March
and April 2005.
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