Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KATHMANDU1323
2005-06-16 12:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
RELEASE AND RE-ARREST OF POLITICAL LEADERS
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001323
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL/BELL
NSC FOR DORMANDY
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM NP GON
SUBJECT: RELEASE AND RE-ARREST OF POLITICAL LEADERS
PEOPLE'S FRONT LEADER RE-ARRESTED
---------------------------------
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001323
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL/BELL
NSC FOR DORMANDY
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM NP GON
SUBJECT: RELEASE AND RE-ARREST OF POLITICAL LEADERS
PEOPLE'S FRONT LEADER RE-ARRESTED
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 15, following a Supreme Court order,
the government released three leaders of the People's
Front Nepal (PFN) from the Kathmandu District Court.
However, the police re-arrested Nava Raj Subedi,
General Secretary of the PFN, from the party office
premises within five hours of his release. Chairman
Amik Sherchan and Vice Chairman Lilamani Pokharel of
the PFN managed to evade the security personnel's
attempt to re-arrest them. Shasi Shrestha, Central
Committee Member of the PFN and spouse of Lilamani
Pokharel, told EmbOff that the re-arrest of Subedi was
a challenge to the Supreme Court's authority and rule
of law in Nepal. According to Ram Krishna Timalsina,
Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court, the re-arrest
of Subedi was a clear violation of the rule of law,
and the Supreme Court would again take up the case if
a writ petition was filed in the court for his
release.
MOST POLITICOS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS RELEASED
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) The government has released most of the
political leaders, cadres and human rights activists
from detention. As of June 16, only 10 politicos are
in police custody - three from the Nepali Congress
(NC),two from the Nepali Congress (Democratic) (NC-
D),and five from the People's Front Nepal (PFN). One
human rights activist remains in police custody. The
Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) told EmbOff
that only Krishna Pahadi, former President of HURPES,
who was arrested on February 9 in Kathmandu, was still
in detention. Advocacy Forum told EmbOff that they
were working on the release of the 22 Maoist Victim
Association protestors who are still in jail.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (SBU) The government has released all detainees
except those politicos and human rights activists who
are either facing corruption charges or demanding the
election of a constituent assembly.
MILLARD
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL/BELL
NSC FOR DORMANDY
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM NP GON
SUBJECT: RELEASE AND RE-ARREST OF POLITICAL LEADERS
PEOPLE'S FRONT LEADER RE-ARRESTED
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 15, following a Supreme Court order,
the government released three leaders of the People's
Front Nepal (PFN) from the Kathmandu District Court.
However, the police re-arrested Nava Raj Subedi,
General Secretary of the PFN, from the party office
premises within five hours of his release. Chairman
Amik Sherchan and Vice Chairman Lilamani Pokharel of
the PFN managed to evade the security personnel's
attempt to re-arrest them. Shasi Shrestha, Central
Committee Member of the PFN and spouse of Lilamani
Pokharel, told EmbOff that the re-arrest of Subedi was
a challenge to the Supreme Court's authority and rule
of law in Nepal. According to Ram Krishna Timalsina,
Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court, the re-arrest
of Subedi was a clear violation of the rule of law,
and the Supreme Court would again take up the case if
a writ petition was filed in the court for his
release.
MOST POLITICOS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS RELEASED
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) The government has released most of the
political leaders, cadres and human rights activists
from detention. As of June 16, only 10 politicos are
in police custody - three from the Nepali Congress
(NC),two from the Nepali Congress (Democratic) (NC-
D),and five from the People's Front Nepal (PFN). One
human rights activist remains in police custody. The
Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) told EmbOff
that only Krishna Pahadi, former President of HURPES,
who was arrested on February 9 in Kathmandu, was still
in detention. Advocacy Forum told EmbOff that they
were working on the release of the 22 Maoist Victim
Association protestors who are still in jail.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (SBU) The government has released all detainees
except those politicos and human rights activists who
are either facing corruption charges or demanding the
election of a constituent assembly.
MILLARD