PHA-Exchange> Disappearence of yet another lawyer

[Mathura P Shrestha]

Mr. Raman Kumar Shrestha is an advocate active in Legal Relief Center which
usually defends those treated unlawfully or with social or political
injustices. On the August 23 he left his home by his motor cycle for the
office of the center. He did not reach there. He was supposed to attend two
cases in the Supreme Court that day. He did not appear there either. His
wife Biswo Kumari Shrestha tried to contact him in the court and his office
whole day but in vain. Suddenly, a white van with 10 to 12 military
personnel and one person in civil dress stopped in front of her house at
about 8 PM and forced open the door. They searched the whole house and
ransacked the papers and personnel belongings without search warrant. Since
they found nothing they handed over the motorcycle, its key and helmet got
the wife signed on the receipt of these and on a paper that no damage was
done during the search. When she asked where is her husband they replied
that they will not be able to answer that and left the house by 10 PM. Mr
Shrestha ha a wife, a daughter, a son and an ailing mother. Nepal Bar
Association and several other civil societies, and human rights
organizations have strongly condemned the abduction and disappearance.
Mathura