Amnesty International calls for suspension of military aid to Nepal


NEW DELHI (AFP) - Human rights group Amnesty International called on the United States, Britain and India to suspend military aid to Nepal after King Gyanendra's seizure of power and declaration of emergency rule.

"We are calling on the international community to put pressure on Nepal," Amnesty International secretary general Irene Khan said in a statement at a media conference here on Thursday.

"We are calling on governments to suspend all military assistance," Khan said, singling out the US, Britain and India, the three main backers of the Himalayan kingdom's nine-year military struggle against Maoist rebels.

"Time is running out," she added. "Nepal is on a downward spiral."

Khan said the Indian ambassador to Nepal had told her that they were reconsidering military assistance.

A Indian government official who declined to be named said military assistance that was being extended under an agreement with the Nepalese government before it was sacked was still continuing.

But the Gyanendra-led government had not asked for any fresh assistance from India and therefore none was being given.

The US and EU have recalled ambassadors for consultations following the takeover.

Khan also called on the United Nations (news - web sites) to appoint a special human rights rapporteur and to vet all Nepalese soldiers serving on UN peacekeeping missions to ensure they are not guilty of human rights abuses.

Khan said there are currently 3,000 to 3,500 Nepalese troops on UN peacekeeping missions in countries such as the Congo.

"The military is in control in all but name," she said. "The state of emergency has strengthened the security forces. The political process and human rights are on the backburner," said Khan, reporting on her visit this week to Nepal where she met Gyanendra as well as government and army leaders.

The king on February 1 dismissed the government, declared an emergency and assumed absolute power, launching a crackdown on dissent in which up to 1,000 people have been detained according to an opposition party.

The army says about 100 have been arrested.

Khan said the suspension of civil rights and intimidation of lawyers by security forces has created a "sense of fear in civil society."

She said human rights lawyers have been warned not to file writs of habeas corpus for people detained under the Public Security Act and journalists were threatened not to write articles against the takeover.

Amnesty was allowed by the government to meet two people in detention under police supervision, rights activist Krishna Pahadi and Bishnu Misturi, general secretary of the National Federation of Journalists.

Misturi was arrested February 4 and has yet to appear before court, said Amnesty's Ingrid Massage who met him in the past week with police officials monitoring the visit.

"He was very well, healthy," Massage said. "A write of habeas corpus has been filed for his release. He said if he is released, he would renew protests."