Police Intervention in Rally Organized to Mark Int'l Day for the Right to the Truth

Kathmandu/March 24

Police have intervened in the program organized by the Transitional Justice Advocacy Group (TJAG) to mark the International Day for the Right to the Truth on March 24. Police snatched the lanterns and manhandled participants as the representatives of various organizations, human rights activists, civil society leaders and conflict victims were preparing to take out a symbolic lantern rally. The rally was taken out in a peaceful manner from Bhrikuti Mandap despite the police intervention. Participants of the rally chanted slogans demanding scrapping of the ordinance on formation of Commission of Inquiry into Disappearance, Truth and Reconciliation, action against Bal Krishna Dhungel, end of state atrocity, among others. The rally had converted into a corner assembly after reaching Shanti Batika. Addressing the assembly, INSEC Chairperson Subodh Raj Pyakurel said that the Chairperson of the Interim Election Council Khila Raj Regmi had ordered for intervention in the peaceful rally as delivering justice to the victims had panicked him. He added that the movement for rights would continue until the government amends the ordinance approved by the President with provision for amnesty. Former commissioner of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and former Chairperson of INSEC Sushil Pyakurel said that the government had demonstrated totalitarian nature by curbing a peaceful rally. Human rights activists Charan Prasain, Bhawani Kharel, Suman Adhikari condemned the police intervention. http://inseconline.org/index.php?type=news&id=11591&lang=en

Bibek Dhungana