A representative of Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), a FORUM-ASIA member organisation in Nepal, has received threats from Maoists, after the organisation published news he wrote in January. The story discloses Maoist cadres’ obstruction for contractors to submit applications for bidding for building projects.
(Bangkok) A representative of Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), a FORUM-ASIA member organisation in the country, has received threats from Maoists after the organisation published news he wrote in January. The story discloses Maoists’ obstruction for contractors to submit applications for bidding for building projects by of the Manthali City Development Committee in Ramechhap district, eastern Nepal.

The representative, Nabaraj Pathik, is INSEC’s representative of Ramechhap district. Maoists have been threatening him since 3 March. In the morning of 5 March, the Maoist cadres tried to forcibly take Pathik to their party’s office while he was sitting at a local stationery shop. Bimal Dhungel, a Maoist cadre, threatened to “break his legs unless he produces evidence” about his allegations. Pathik responded that if they do not agree with the news, they could refute the news and sue him.

The news appeared in the organisation’s website on 31 January, and was published in its weekly newsletter on 1 February.

Pathik also wrote an editorial for a local paper on 1 February on the same topic.. Another editorial he wrote was titled “Rajnitima Aparadhikaran Kahilesamma” (Till when criminalsation in politics will continue) on Nayan weekly, of which he is the chief editor.

FORUM-ASIA submitted a case fact sheet to Hina Jilani, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders, about the threats Pathik has received.

INSEC issued a statement on 5 March, asking Maoist leaders to ensure no repetition of incidents showing the Maoists’ lack of sensitivity toward human rights defenders. The statement also demanded the Nepali government to take action against the Maoist cadres and to guarantee the security of Pathik.