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Press Release
Call for Solidarity
Dear All,
Perhaps Nepal has been passing through a
very difficult situation in the history. The king has taken
over the political power and we are under the state of emergency.
All the political and civic rights have been suspended. At
the same time armed conflict is going on which has already
taken the life of over 10,000 people.
We feel sorrow to state that our president,
the renowned human rights defender Mr.
Gauri Pradhan has been arrested on 17th
February from Tribhuwan International Airport Kathmandu.
He was coming back from attending different official meetings
in Europe.
Government has not yet officially declared
of his detention and he has not been given any charge sheet.
We take his detention is an attack not only on the entire
human rights community, but on humanity and democracy as a
whole.
We would like to request you to show your
concern and solidarity sending the appeal to the Nepali Government
directly or via Nepali diplomatic missions near to you for
his immediate and unconditional release.
The common appeal
is attached here with for your reference. The addresses of
the Nepal government and diplomatic missions in abroad also
are given below.
We are looking forward for your solidarity
to protect the human rights in Nepal.
Pls. inform us your initiation.
Madhav Pradhan
General Secretary
CWIN-Nepal
18 Feb. 2005
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To,
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Call for Immediate Release of the CWIN President
We are disturbed by the news of the arrest
of the President of Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Center
(CWIN- Nepal) Mr. Gauri Pradhan. Mr. Pradhan was arrested
from the premises of Tribhuvan International Airport on February
17, 2005, while he was returning from attending the meeting
in The Netherlands and Geneva on the Global March Against
Child Labour International Council and UNCRC reporting meeting.
Mr. Pradhan has been tirelessly dedicated
to human rights and the rights of the child. He serves as
President of the state-formed Central Child Welfare Board,
and as the Chairperson of Alliance for Social Justice and
Human Rights. He has worked as Chairperson of the NGO Federation
of Nepal, and currently serves as the President of the Nepal
Labour Academy, South Asia Regional Coordinator of the Global
March Against Child Labour and as General Secretary of the
Friends for Peace,Nepal.
The arrest of Mr. Pradhan was unwarranted
and violates the basic norms of human rights as guaranteed
by UN instruments and covenants to which Nepal is a signatory.
Mr. Pradhan's arrest is not only a violation of human rights,
but commits a grave injustice to Nepalese children whose rights
Mr. Pradhan works to protect. We take his detention is an
attack not only on the entire human rights community, but
on humanity and democracy as a whole.
We appeal to the Nepalese authorities to
undertake immediate measures for the unconditional release
of human rights defender Mr. Pradhan. We also call upon You
to ensure the safety of human rights defenders and to create
a conducive environment so they may carry out their legitimate
activities.
Sincerely,
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