Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kathmandu (Fides Service) - King Gyanendra of Nepal has revoked the state of emergency two days before its expiry. He had announced the measure on February 1 “to save democracy from terrorism”. The King announced his decision to revoke the emergency in a statement issued today 30 April. The King’s decision to declare a state of emergency and assume total power to face the reawakening of the Maoist rebels was strongly criticised by the international community. The King decided to revoke the emergency after he returned from a ten day journey to Indonesia, China and Singapore during which he had talks with Asian political leaders i.
With the state of emergency all civil rights were suppressed including the right of expression and association. The King justified his intervention in the political life of the country, noting the failure of democratic institutions to guarantee stability and security and the way in which the government dealt with the rebel uprising.
In the meantime time international organisations denounced a dangerous degeneration of the situation of respect for human rights in Nepal. A first warning came last year from the United Nations Human Rights Commission which said Maoist rebels continue to operate outside all legality and control but that the armed forces also acted with impunity. During its 61st session 14-22 April in Geneva, the UN Commission said it would like to send a mission to Nepal to assess the situation of respect for the universal standards of human rights considered far below the acceptable level with serious harm to the civil population.
The International Crisis Group, a European research group, underlined “serious humanitarian crisis” which poses priorities in Nepal: International Crisis Group says in Nepal there is a “a serious humanitarian crisis” and demands certain priorities: guarantee freedom for every individual, allow a UN mission to enter the country to inspect the situation, the government of Nepal and Maoist rebels must sign a pact to guarantee respect for human rights.
In this framework Catholics are also concerned although the right to freedom of religious and religious practice have not been affected. In Nepal for nine years Maoist rebel groups have been fighting to overthrow the monarchy and install a communist regime. At least 11,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Recent attempts to mediate or start negotiations failed and the rebels still control areas of the country.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/4/2005 righe 25 parole 256)
