Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU2971
2006-11-06 11:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL ARMY PUNISHES SOLDIERS WHO ABUSED POLICE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002971
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL ARMY PUNISHES SOLDIERS WHO ABUSED POLICE
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2089
B. SECSTATE 181356
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Soldiers Punished For Abusing Police
-------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002971
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL ARMY PUNISHES SOLDIERS WHO ABUSED POLICE
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2089
B. SECSTATE 181356
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Soldiers Punished For Abusing Police
--------------
1. (U) According to an October 29 press release from the
Nepal Army (NA),the General Military Court had issued
sentences against four NA officers and 12 non-commissioned
officers involved in the July 29, 2006 attack on a Nepal
Police post in central Kathmandu (reftel). The soldiers had
surrounded the police post and abducted and tortured three
police officers. The soldiers acted at the instigation of NA
Captain Robin Rana, who had been in a minor altercation with
a police officer while intoxicated. The soldiers were from
Bhairabnath Battalion in Kathmandu, the same battalion named
in the May OHCHR report highlighting serious human rights
abuses in late 2003.
Sentencing Details
--------------
2. (U) Ring leader Captain Rana was sentenced to one-year
imprisonment and was terminated from service. Lieutenant
Colonel Rajendra Khatri (the Battalion Commander) will not be
promoted for three years from the date he is eligible for
promotion. Major Anil Khadka will not be promoted for five
years from the date he is eligible for promotion. Second
Lieutenant Sabin Raj Dura will not be promoted for one year
from the date he is eligible for promotion. Sergeant Resham
Shrestha was sentenced to 45 days in military custody and
will not be promoted for one year from the date he is
eligible for promotion. According to sources inside the NA,
the delay in promotion effectively ended the careers of all
of the officers involved. A group of eleven non-commissioned
officers involved in the incident were also sentenced to 45
days in military custody. This sentence should not adversely
affect their future careers in the NA.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The action by the General Military Court shows that
the Nepali Army is taking its responsibility for the
protection of human rights and to take action against
soldiers involved in committing crimes seriously. As
reported septel, the Ambassador raised the Rana case as well
as the previous Bhairabnath abuses with Chief of Army Staff
Katawal on November 1. Post will continue to push the NA to
punish abusers and to conduct trials and courts martial in a
transparent, swift, and effective way.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL ARMY PUNISHES SOLDIERS WHO ABUSED POLICE
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2089
B. SECSTATE 181356
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Soldiers Punished For Abusing Police
--------------
1. (U) According to an October 29 press release from the
Nepal Army (NA),the General Military Court had issued
sentences against four NA officers and 12 non-commissioned
officers involved in the July 29, 2006 attack on a Nepal
Police post in central Kathmandu (reftel). The soldiers had
surrounded the police post and abducted and tortured three
police officers. The soldiers acted at the instigation of NA
Captain Robin Rana, who had been in a minor altercation with
a police officer while intoxicated. The soldiers were from
Bhairabnath Battalion in Kathmandu, the same battalion named
in the May OHCHR report highlighting serious human rights
abuses in late 2003.
Sentencing Details
--------------
2. (U) Ring leader Captain Rana was sentenced to one-year
imprisonment and was terminated from service. Lieutenant
Colonel Rajendra Khatri (the Battalion Commander) will not be
promoted for three years from the date he is eligible for
promotion. Major Anil Khadka will not be promoted for five
years from the date he is eligible for promotion. Second
Lieutenant Sabin Raj Dura will not be promoted for one year
from the date he is eligible for promotion. Sergeant Resham
Shrestha was sentenced to 45 days in military custody and
will not be promoted for one year from the date he is
eligible for promotion. According to sources inside the NA,
the delay in promotion effectively ended the careers of all
of the officers involved. A group of eleven non-commissioned
officers involved in the incident were also sentenced to 45
days in military custody. This sentence should not adversely
affect their future careers in the NA.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The action by the General Military Court shows that
the Nepali Army is taking its responsibility for the
protection of human rights and to take action against
soldiers involved in committing crimes seriously. As
reported septel, the Ambassador raised the Rana case as well
as the previous Bhairabnath abuses with Chief of Army Staff
Katawal on November 1. Post will continue to push the NA to
punish abusers and to conduct trials and courts martial in a
transparent, swift, and effective way.
MORIARTY