Nepal Bans UN Activities

United Nations, Apr 20 (Prensa Latina) The UN protested Thursday the Nepali government´s ban that its human rights groups monitor the situation during the curfew, imposed after pro-democracy protesters called for mass demonstrations against King Gyanendra.

Kieran Dwyer, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, said that efforts made for the human rights teams to move freely throughout Kathmandu during the emergency state had failed.

"We have been denied curfew passes, thus obstructing our ability to monitor the human rights situation as we have in previous situations of curfew," he noted.

Nepali authorities told teams they can only have limited movement between their residences and office under police escort.

This obstruction was described as a clear violation of the agreement between the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Nepali Government.

Likewise, Dwyer expressed concern over the escalating spate of violence surrounding anti-monarch demonstrations and the police response.

Anti-riot forces have resorted to indiscriminate firing of rubber bullets into crowds, beatings, raids on homes and destruction of property and other actions that include women, children, journalists and lawyers.

The UN envoy urged Katmandu´s Executive to guarantee essential human rights for all, including the rights to life, physical and psychological integrity, freedom from arbitrary detention, and the freedom of opinion, expression, association, and assembly.

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