Madam, - The human rights crisis in Nepal (The Irish Times, March 24th) is a long-standing one. Grave abuses have been committed by both the opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the security forces during a nine-year internal conflict. For the past two years Nepal has had the highest number of reported disappearances in the world.
Hostilities have escalated further following King Gyanendra's seizure of direct power and his declaration of a state of emergency on February 1st. Fundamental rights have been suspended, including freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.
In the first few days of February the security forces arrested hundreds of political leaders, many of whom continue to be held in preventive detention. Many trade unionists, student activists, journalists and human rights defenders have also been detained, and arrests continue.
The king's takeover has strengthened the hand of the military, reduced the prospect of a political process towards peace, and increased the likelihood of intensified violence - with the attendant risk of increased human rights abuses.
Krishna Pahadi, founding chairman of the Human Rights and Peace Society and former chairperson of Amnesty International Nepal, was arrested in Kathmandu on February 9th. There are deep concerns for his safety, and that of the other human rights defenders who have been detained.
There is an urgent need for the Irish Government and the EU to demand his immediate and unconditional release, the release of all prisoners of conscience, and the restoration of fundamental freedoms suspended under the state of emergency.
The UN Human Rights Commission is currently meeting in Geneva. It is vital that it issues the strongest possible condemnation of the current wave of human rights abuses and appoints a special rapporteur on Nepal. There is an urgent need for effective human rights monitoring and protection including a strengthened National Human Rights Commission in Nepal, and an increased presence there for the High Commissioner for Human Rights. - Yours, etc.,
COLM Ó CUANACHÁIN, Secretary General, Amnesty International Irish Section, Fleet Street, Dublin 2.