US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU1323

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RELEASE AND RE-ARREST OF POLITICAL LEADERS

Identifier: 05KATHMANDU1323
Wikileaks: View 05KATHMANDU1323 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Kathmandu
Created: 2005-06-16 12:18:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: PGOV PINS PHUM NP Government of Nepal
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001323 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL/BELL 
NSC FOR DORMANDY 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PHUM, NP, Government of Nepal (GON), Political Parties 
SUBJECT: RELEASE AND RE-ARREST OF POLITICAL LEADERS 
 
PEOPLE'S FRONT LEADER RE-ARRESTED 
--------------------------------- 
 
1.  (SBU) On June 15, following a Supreme Court order, 
the government released three leaders of the People's 
Front Nepal (PFN) from the Kathmandu District Court. 
However, the police re-arrested Nava Raj Subedi, 
General Secretary of the PFN, from the party office 
premises within five hours of his release.  Chairman 
Amik Sherchan and Vice Chairman Lilamani Pokharel of 
the PFN managed to evade the security personnel's 
attempt to re-arrest them.  Shasi Shrestha, Central 
Committee Member of the PFN and spouse of Lilamani 
Pokharel, told EmbOff that the re-arrest of Subedi was 
a challenge to the Supreme Court's authority and rule 
of law in Nepal.  According to Ram Krishna Timalsina, 
Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court, the re-arrest 
of Subedi was a clear violation of the rule of law, 
and the Supreme Court would again take up the case if 
a writ petition was filed in the court for his 
release. 
 
MOST POLITICOS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS RELEASED 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
2.  (SBU) The government has released most of the 
political leaders, cadres and human rights activists 
from detention.  As of June 16, only 10 politicos are 
in police custody - three from the Nepali Congress 
(NC), two from the Nepali Congress (Democratic) (NC- 
D), and five from the People's Front Nepal (PFN).  One 
human rights activist remains in police custody.  The 
Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) told EmbOff 
that only Krishna Pahadi, former President of HURPES, 
who was arrested on February 9 in Kathmandu, was still 
in detention.  Advocacy Forum told EmbOff that they 
were working on the release of the 22 Maoist Victim 
Association protestors who are still in jail. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
3.  (SBU) The government has released all detainees 
except those politicos and human rights activists who 
are either facing corruption charges or demanding the 
election of a constituent assembly. 
 
MILLARD 

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