Publicize whereabouts of disappeared people: Rights activists

Human rights activists and family members of the people disappeared by the state have urged the government to immediately publicize their whereabouts to assure presence of the state.

Speaking at an interaction organized by the Association of Families of Disappeared people by State in the capital today, they charged the government of not abiding by the laws of the country and commitments made by government in the international level.

Speaking at the program, Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Chairman of Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) said that the tendency of disappearance has been increasing since the enforcement of Terrorist and Disruptive Act (Control and Punishment) Ordinance (TADO).

He said that the government is not following the order of the court and re-arresting people released by the court. He accused the govt. of lying to the court in case of disappeared people by the state, which is clear violation of rule of law.

Stating that the government is engaged in systematic violation of the human rights, he warned, “People will be compelled to revolt if the state does not correct such activities.”

Chairman of Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON), Charan Prasain, urged the government to immediately publicize the whereabouts of all people disappeared by the state to assure people that the state is functioning.

According to National Human Rights Commission, the government is yet to publicize the whereabouts of 884 people.

Speaking at the same program, Shanta Bhandari, founder chairperson of the Association and mother of Bipin Bhandari, who is disappeared since June 16, 2002 said the government is doing nothing while more citizens are disappearing. She urged all to come to the streets to demand their rights as the state is neglecting basic rights of the people.

Bhagbati Chaudhari of Bardiya, whose husband was arrested by the security personnel and disappeared said, “The government is compelling people to be Maoists by abducting their family members.”

She urged the state either to declare the disappeared people dead and prove their guilt or allow them to see their family members. She also expressed dissatisfaction over some human rights organization that do nothing than filling forms.

Other family members of the disappeared people also urged the government to immediately publicize the whereabouts of the disappeared people.

Association of Families of Disappeared people by State also announced various programmes to pressurize the government to publicize the whereabouts of disappeared people by the state.

They said that the they will also appeal to the United Nations, European Union and various human rights organizations for help to file cases against the security agencies and the home ministry.

The Association also released data of 119 people disappeared by the state after consultation with family members.

The tendency of disappearance is increasing in the country following the onset of the Maoist insurgency that has claimed the lives of over ten thousand people. nepalnews.com pb Dec 28 05