PHA-Exchange> Masked Security Personnel Yet another examples of gross human rights violence.

[Mathura P Shrestha]

Dear All

At about 11 AM on the 9th September, 2003 succession of loud knocks from the front door of Daman Nath Dhungana terrified the family and neighbors. When Mr. Dhungan's son opened the door one masked plainclothes army personnel accompanied by several unmasked plainclothes army personnel forced themselves in and declared that they have come to search the house and its contents. They didn't have search warrant or any identity. 'However, one could easily detect they were from army personnel from the army vests and other clothing that were visible' - said Mr. Dhungana. As Mr. Dhungana had severe bout of Acute Peptic Ulcer Syndrome with high fever and sleeping with an advise of bed rest from his doctors, Mrs. Bhuwan Dhungana, wife of Mr. Daman Nath Dhungana came downstairs and gave the identity of Mr. Dhungana who had presided the first democratically elected parliament following the 1990 People's Movement for Democracy, an active member of 1990 Constitution Drafting Commission, one of the important facilitator during the both Dialogue for peace between the government and the Maoists and the one who have been active for the cause of democracy and human rights since 1950 revolution. 'Why you want to search the house of such a high profile public figure?', she asked. 'It is the order, and we will search all rooms, including the bed rooms, scrutinize all suspicious papers and articles, and seize any thing that will be necessary' - said the army personnel. Mrs. Bhuwan Dhungana then said that Mr. Dhungana is ill with fever and sleeping. He should not be awakened or disturbed. Apparently they agreed and proceed to search the house starting from the bedroom of Mr. Dhungana. However with the light and noise Mr. Dhungana woke up and ask for identity and of course search warrant. They identified as army personnel but failed to produce search warrant. They ransacked all cupboards and all corners of the room. Even the notebooks and papers under his pillow were searched and contents scrutinized. Following this they searched every thing in the house. They got hold a draft of Mr. Dhungana's article in the library and asked several questions to Mr. Dhungana in rather a harsh tone, 'Why he wrote such article?' She replied that the article was already public and duly published in journals and daily papers. After that the security personnel searched neighborhood. 'Compared to rough behavior that could be inferred from loud knocks, voices with slurs', said Mr. Dhungana, 'the army personnel presented themselves in my house in a much civilized manner'.

Earlier, another active democrat since 1950 revolution and ardent human rights activist, Miss Shanta Shrestha, 70 years of age, was searched in the middle of night by the similarly masked army personnel and abducted without any warrants or even explanations. Her whereabouts and condition are not known yet. Army has not made her arrest or abduction public.

There are too many human rights violation from the state side. Even the independent inquiry commission set by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) found the Doramba massacre in Ramechhap was unalled for and murder after the arrest of unarmed Maoists assembled for a meeting during the ceasefire. NHRC document totally refutes the versions of the army and the government broadcasted in TV and radio or printed in media as government statement. 

Maoists too are engaged in gross human rights violation with several cases of abductions, torture and brutal killings of unarmed persons. 

I hope that the solidarity and organized voice of the civil societies, human rights activists and thinking population over Nepal and the world against such atrocities, uncivilized behaviors and human rights violation will ultimately book these perpetuers against humanities, and force both the state party and the Maoists to shed their barbarism and revive the ceasefire and peace talk again. I also hope that both the government and the Maoists will take the Timetable set in the People's Plan of August 9 during the national conference of NGOs and civil societies on conflict transformation and peace. They have got to come to senses. Let all of continue to voice for human rights and social justice. 

I also hope that the political process in Nepal will discard retrogation and restore democracy.

Regards

Professor Mathura P. Shrestha
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