Impose visa ban on King Gyanendra
Over 200 Nepalese democracy activists arrested

 New Delhi: Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today condemned the preventive detention of over 200 Nepalese political leaders and civil society activists so far by the Nepalese security forces to prevent the mass demonstration by the political parties to be held in Kathmandu tomorrow, 20 January 2006.

All the senior leaders of the political parties have been arrested. Phone lines of Nepali Congress President GP Koirala have been disconnected while UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli have been put under house arrest.

Prominent civil society activists including Dr Mathura Prasad Shrestha, Shyam Shrestha, Krishna Pahadi and Dr Devendra Raj Pandey have been also arrested.

Many journalists including Shyam Shrestha have been picked up by the security forces.

“This is an ugly attempt by King Gyanendra to suppress legitimate democratic right with complete disregard for international community and it only raises legitimate questions about the future of the monarchy in the country.” – stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

Asian Centre for Human Rights urged international community to take further actions and impose a visa ban on King Gyanendra and his cabinet ministers, a freeze on their assets in foreign countries, and a ban on technical and economic assistance.

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