Ian Martin, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, met today with the Home Secretary of His Majesty’s Government to raise serious concerns about human rights violations in the context of policing of recent demonstrations and arrests, and subsequent detentions. Ian Martin expressed his particular concern at the excessive use of force by members of
security forces in Gongabu and other places witnessed by OHCHR-Nepal staff. He
acknowledged that police faced a difficult task in policing large demonstrations, some of which had seen violence resulting in police suffering injuries in the course of their duty. However he insisted on the authorities’ legal obligation to use only the minimum necessary force in accordance with international standards on the use of force and firearms. The Home Secretary assured OHCHR-Nepal that appropriate instructions had already been issued to
security forces. During the meeting, Ian Martin insisted that investigations be undertaken into the killing of demonstrators or bystanders in Pokhara, Chitwan, Banepa and Parasi and the excessive use of force in Gongabu. Serious concern was also expressed by Ian Martin at the widespread use of the Public
Security Act, despite recent rulings by the Supreme Court that such arrests conducted last January were illegal. Ian Martin stated his particular concern that the use of the Public Security Act to justify detention of children as young as 12 years old, as well as political leaders, members of civil society and journalists. He asked that the Home Secretary issue clear instructions to security forces that lawyers should be allowed to visit detainees without
restrictions in order to provide them with legal counsel, and that families of detainees receive prompt information about and access to their family members. Ian Martin raised OHCHR-Nepal concerns about the serious shortcomings in the conditions of detention for those held under the Public Security Act.
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Publisher:
UNOHCHR
,
(2006
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Type / Script:
Press Release
in English
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Keywords:
PUBLIC SECURITY, SECURITY FORCES, CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS, HUMAN SECURITY, DETENTION, LAWYERS, HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS, ACCESS TO FAMILY, CIVIL SOCIETY, ILLEGAL, JUSTIFY DETENTION, JUSTICE MECHANISM, LEGAL OBLIGATION, HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, KILLING OF BYSTANDERS, RESTRICTIONS, JOURNALIST, LEGAL COUNSEL, HOME SECRETARY
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Thematic Group:
UNOHCHR
:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
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Thesaurus:
14.02.02
- Human Rights
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Reference Link:
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