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Kathmandu Sunday August 13, 2000 Kartik 28, 2057.
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AI prods Maoists, Govt on Human Rights
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Nov 12 - Secretary General of Amnesty
International (AI) Pierre Sane today said that the woman who was arrested by the police
and whose whereabouts were not known has been kept in the District Police Office, Tanahun.
After plain clothes policemen, on October 31, arrested Gita
Shahi, Regional President of All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary) - a sister
organisation of underground CPN (Maoist), AI has been keeping deep concern about her
condition.
Sane, who at present is on a three-day official visit to
Nepal, told The Kathmandu Post that Shahi was safe in the District Police Office, Tanahun.
Sane said the condition of Shahi after his meeting with Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Pradeep SJB Rana today. "IGP Rana not only told about Shahi’s condition but also
assured that the police will allow her to meet lawyers and her family members," said
Sane.
According to Sane, the police, when asked about the
Shahi’s condition after her speculated detention, had said: "she has not been
detained so far and we know nothing about her". Sane, on Thursday, had warned the
government that if the condition of Shahi was not made public, AI would create
international pressure against it.
According to our Tanahun based reporter, the police filed a
case against Shahi in the District Court on charge of possessing socket bomb today. The
legal process against her will be forwarded in the Court on crime against the state.
According to our police source, the police has been
extending her term for further investigation ever since her detention. "Police is
preparing to prosecute her on charge of attempting murder, looting and many others,"
the source said.
The source, denying the allegation made against it for not
allowing anyone to meet Shahi, said that nobody came to see her.
AI has been making public the reports of human rights
violations done by Maoists and the government since the former waged "People’s
War" nearly five years ago.
Sane said IGP Rana has positively accepted his suggestions
of no torture, no disappearances and no extra judiciary killings in the police custody
after detention. He also said that Rana had acceded to protect human rights by following
his suggestions.
"IGP Rana admitted the tortures given to the detainees
by police due to the war, murder and terror (by Maoists)," Sane said, adding "he
has assured that the situation will improve in the days to come."
As a part of the AI-Nepal Campaign to eliminating torture
from Nepal, AI submitted a memorandum to the Police Headquarters, Naxal by organising a
motorcycle rally from International Convention Hall, Baneshwor Thursday.
AI-Nepal, in collaboration with other human rights
organisations, has planned to organise various activities such as east-west motorcycle
rally and training to police officials throughout this year. "Rana has agreed to
cooperate AI in this regard," Sane said, adding "we are leaving Nepal with very
positive hope of improved human rights situation."
Castigating the Maoists’ acts of committing murder,
abduction, torture, recruiting children in their military force, Sane said, "We have
been strongly appealing the Maoists to follow international conventions on war and respect
the human rights." He said that he did not talked to any Maoists.
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