Joint Appeal of NGOs, civil society organizations and trade unions around the world expressing deep concern over the Royal crackdown on democracy and gross violations of human rights, as well as continued conflict with the Maoists (Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist) in Nepal. They note that despite the lifting of the state of emergency on April 29, 2005, King Gyanendra has continuously curtailed civil society while more than 6,500 political activists, human rights defenders including journalists, lawyers, trade unionists, women rights activists and students were arrested and detained, since February 1, 2005.
We, the undersigned members of NGOs, civil society organizations and trade unions around the world are deeply concerned over the Royal crackdown on democracy and gross violations of human rights, as well as continued conflict with the Maoists (Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist) in Nepal. Despite the lifting of the state of emergency on April 29, 2005, King Gyanendra has continuously curtailed civil society. More than 6,500 political activists, human rights defenders including journalists, lawyers, trade unionists, women rights activists and students were arrested and detained, since February 1, 2005.

On January 16, 2006, curfew in the capital city was imposed and was extended on January 18. On January 19, Nepal faces another severe phase of total crisis in the country. Latest attacks by the autocratic government on civil society include massive arrests of political and human rights activists, crack down on peaceful assembly and association, restriction on movement, cutting-off communications including telephone services and television channels.

The Maoists have cancelled the extension of a four-month unilateral cease-fire on January 2, 2006 even after an understanding on various issues with seven political parties on November 22, 2005. During the cease-fire, the King’s government did not reciprocate with any appropriate conflict settlement with the Maoists.

The extreme measures adopted by the present regime have failed to resolve the violence and armed conflict. The daily death toll has doubled since the royal takeover. From February 1, 2005 to January 22, 2006, at least 1,478 people were killed in 65 out of 75 districts of Nepal, allegedly due to the people’s war waged by the Maoists. The government security forces have unrelentingly cracked down on peaceful demonstrations during the year. Those arrested were held in unofficial detention centers in extremely bad conditions. Escalating armed conflict has resulted in increased public insecurity, displacement, destruction of infrastructures and lack of access to emergency social services.

Without democracy, peace, and the rule of law, the fundamental rights of all people in Nepal cannot be guaranteed. The present regime led by the King denies basic rights and fundamental freedoms, including labor and women rights in Nepal, which are guaranteed under the Nepalese Constitution and various international human rights and humanitarian treaties. Such Royal crackdowns on democracy and the rule of law in Nepal is also clearly based on the fact that at least 35 ordinances have been issued without due process, of which more than half were introduced after the lifting of the State of Emergency.

These ordinances are aimed at safeguarding the autocratic regime, curtailing freedom of expression, association and assembly, especially those of media and NGOs, restricting activities of NGOs, harassing civil administration, weakening national human rights institution, threatening innocent civilians and curtailing trade union rights. Of the last, the latest in a series of cutting off trade union rights is the latest amendment in the Labor Act, approved by the labor bill drafting committee under the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, in January 2006. This amendment greatly threatens the jobs of employees, curtails the right to assembly and aims at dismantling the thrust of the trade union movement.

Against this backdrop, Nepal and international community must be afforded to restore multi-party democracy, peace and human rights in Nepal. The autocratic government and the Maoists must respect the internationally-recognized human rights and humanitarian treaties, which Nepal is a party to.

Therefore, we strongly appeal to King Gyanendra to:

1. Repeal the unconstitutional Royal proclamation of February 2005, and immediately restore multi-party democracy;
2. Guarantee all the rights of the people, including freedom of expression and opinion, peaceful assembly, association and movement;
3. Release all human rights defenders including journalists and lawyers, trade unionists, women rights activists, students, professionals and political activists arrested in connection with the movement for human rights and democracy in the country;
4. Stop harassing human rights defenders including journalists and lawyers, trade unionists, women rights activists, students, professionals and political activists;
5. Lift all measures passed without due process, including the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Control and Punishment) Ordinance, Social Welfare Council (First Amendment) Ordinance, Ordinance Relating to Amend in Some Nepal Acts Related to Communication, National Human Rights Commission (First Amendment) Ordinance, Code of Conduct for Social Organizations, and the proposed Labor Act (Second Amendment) Ordinance.
6. Declare a cease-fire to stop further violation of human rights and for peaceful resolution of the armed conflict.

We also strongly appeal to the Maoists (Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist) to:

1. Respect and commit to international human rights and humanitarian standards, and not violate the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of all people in Nepal;
2. Follow the 12-point understanding with the seven political parties on November 22, 2005;
3. Declare a cease-fire to stop further violence and for peaceful resolution of the armed conflict.

SN / Representative / Position / Organization

1. Abi Sharma, Coordinator, Canadian Network for Democratic Nepal (CNDN), Canada
2. Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary, Odhikar, Bangladesh
3. Agnes Khoo, Executive Director, Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA)
4. Ang Kaljang Lama, Chairperson, Nepalese Democratic Forum, UK
5. Anselmo Lee, Executive Director, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
6. Asha Hans, Prof. in Woemn's Studies, Sansristi, Bhuabneswar, India
7. Bhakta Gurung, Regional Secretariat Member, Asian Students Associatoin (ASA)
8. B. M. Kutty, Secretary General, Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC), Pakistan
9. Deepak Prakash Bhatt, Chairperson, All India Nepalese Free Students Union (AINFSU), India
10. Farhat Perveen, Coordinator, Women Workers Centre, Pakistan
11. Girish Pokhrel, President, America Nepal Journalist Association, USA
12. Govinda Bandi, Member, Hong Kong Support Group for Democracy and Human Right in Nepal, Hong Kong
13. Iman Rahmana, Sedane Institute for Labour Information (LIPS), Indonesia
14. Irene Xavier, Coordinator, Trans-nationals Information Exchange-Asia (TIE-Asia)
15. Junya Yimprasert, Coordinator, Thai Labour Campaign (TLC), Thailand
16. Karamat Ali, Executive Director, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education & Research (PILER), Pakistan
17. Kiran Sitoula, Editor, Nepalipost.com, USA
18. Krishna Upadhyaya, Coordinator, Solidarity Nepal UK (Solidarity for Democracy, Human Rights and Peace in Nepal)
19. Lekhnath Bhandari, Coordinator, Alternative Group, Virginia, USA
20. Lita Anggraini, Chairperson, RUMPUM , Jogjakarta, Indonesia
21. Lucia Victor Jayaseelan, Coordinating Officer, Committee for Asian Women (CAW)
22. Minoo Gundevia, President, South Asia Research and Resource Center (CERAS), Montreal, Canada
23. Nongluck Parnthong, Coordinator, Slum’s Women Network (SWON), Thailand
24. P.
    Razeek, Managing Trustee, Community Trust Fund (CTF), Sri Lanka
25. Parat Nanakhorn, Coordinator, Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL)
26. Pramod Dhakal, Member of Coordination Committe, Canada Forum for Nepal, Canada
27. Prathueng Chuaykliang, Coordinator, Women’s Rights and Development Centre (WORD), Thailand
28. Premchandra Rai, Coordinator, Far East Overseas Nepalese Association (FEONA), Hong Kong
29. Purushottam Poudel, Chairperson, Nepalese People's Coordination Committee, UK
30. Rajan Treepathi, Coordinator, Nepal Human Rights Organization, Baltimor, USA
31. Ram Lal Kafle, Chairperson, Migrant Nepalese Association, India
32. Ramesh Pandey, Coordinator, Nepalese Forum for Human Rights and People’s Democracy (NEHURIPD), Australia
33. Rana Bose, Editor, Montreal Serai, Canada
34. Rawai Phupaga, Chairperson, International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), Thailand Council
35. Samydorai Sinapan, President, Think Centre, Singapore
36. Shobhakar Budhathoki, Secretariat Member, Defend Human Rights Movement in Nepal (DHRM-N), Nepal
37. Somchai Chuaykliang, Director, Training Centre for Urban Poor (TCUP), Thailand
38. Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, President, Alliance of Democratic Trade Unions (ADTU), Thailand
39. Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Chairperson, Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Nepal
40. Suhas Chakma, Director, Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR)
41. Sujita Shakya, Chairperson, Women’s Welfare Society (WWS), Nepal
42. Sukanta Sukpaita, Chairperson, Women Workers Unity Group (WWUG), Thailand
43. Sultana Kamal, Executive Director, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh
44. Sunila Abeysekera, Executive Director, Information Monitor (INFORM), Sri Lanka
45. Supawadee Petrat, Coordinator for Mekong Region, 1000 Women for Nobel Peace Prize 2005
46. Sushil Pyakurel, Former Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nepal
47. Tapan Bose, Secretary-General, South Asian Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR)
48. Wasun Reesomwong, Coordinator, Institute for Social Research and Action (ISRA), Thailand
49. Wilaiwan Cheatia, Chairperson, Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, Thailand
50. Yadu Nath Pandey, Chairman, Nepali Jana Samparka Samiti, India
51. Yagya Raj Thapa, Executive Officer, Nepal Advocacy Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (NAC), India

See also the Nepali version of this Joint Appeal (.pdf, 62kb)