Relatives of Ghale urge PM to save him from getting death penalty in Malaysia

Human Rights activists and relatives of a Nepali migrant worker Hari Bahadur Ghale, who has received death sentence in Malaysia, met with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai requesting him to save Ghale's life.

Ghale's relatives including 83 years old grandfather Dhan Bahadur Ghale, 13 years old daughter Jharana Ghale, human rights activist Charan Prasain, Director of Amnesty International Nepal Rameshwor Nepal, executive director of Youth Action Nepal Bishnu Bahadur Khatri, former Nepali ambassador to Malaysia Rishi Adhikari requested the PM to take initiation to save his life through the court's order as soon as possible.

In response, PM Bhattarai told them that he would take initiation to save his life as it was the major responsibility of the state to save its citizen.

He also assured that he would take initiation to save him through the diplomatic channel.

The Malaysian Supreme Court had issued death sentence to last week. He was was arrested in possession of narcotic drug in 2003 and had been in prison since then. Ghale, the permanent resident of Basunchet-1, Nuwakot had gone in Malaysia in 2001.

He was arrested by Malaysian police from his room at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 30, 2003 while returning to Nepal after working there for three years.

Another Nepali national, Sajan Gurung, who was arrested along with Ghale, had died in Malaysia while undergoing treatment two years ago.

According to official of the Nepali embassy in Malaysia, Ghale was eligible for a pardon from death penalty from the Malaysian head of state if the initiation taken by similar rank from Nepali side.

Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), different human rights organisations have already requested the government to take necessary steps to save his life. nepalnews.com