To

Mr. Kofi Annan

U.N. Secretary-General

New York.

Ref: Appeal for an Independent Probe Committee on Government’s Deliberate Homicide

Respected Secretary-General:

This petition is being forwarded to draw your kind attention and of the UN body to the gruesome killing of Umesh Chandra Thapa, a UML cadre in cold blood and wounding of thirteen others by the troops of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) on 8th February 2006 in Ghorahi, Dang, in the course of a peaceful public protest rally being held there to boycott the municipal polls called by the seven party alliance and the alliance of eight student unions.

In this context, the nine-member Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC), an alliance of over two dozen human rights organizations, has already released a detailed report, concluding that the firing was intentional, a gross violation of the Constitution of Nepal, 1990 and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.

Considering the indiscriminate nature of the shooting, which was done without warning, the result of abuse of the authority given by the Home Minister to the security forces, may we remind you also that the defense paraded by the Defense Ministry, HMG (that it was a retaliatory fire) fails to hold water, keeping in view the fact that the ruling regime in Nepal can no more be relied on the battery of lies, falsehoods, and accusations it has been mounting all the time to defend itself and survive the people’s nationwide movement for democracy? In this context, we would like, for your kind attention, to recall at this point, also the order given by the Supreme Court to the Ministry of Defense and the RNA to explain their lies on detention (The Himalayan Times, 6 January 2006, p.1) in addition to the blatant lies manufactured by the regime to defend the culprits in the course of the Doramba and Nagarkot carnages.

Considering the possibility that draconian measures to curb the press, muzzle peaceful protest, and suppress the nationwide movement for democracy itself by brutal force are being put on the anvil by the government and in view of the series of bans, pressures, ongoing repressions and firing on peaceful demonstrations and killings (e.g., of Harilal Tharu in Dhangadi on 9th February), the government seems to be acquiring all the characters of a fascist rogue regime that needs to be brought to book. This, however, demands concerted international action by the global community as also that Item 19 has proved clearly inadequate, pointing to the need to activate Item 9.

We, therefore, appeal to you in earnest to do the needful to mete out justice for the victim party and intervene with the meassures required in the fast deteriorating situation before it is too late, to facilitate the process of peace-building and democratization in this troubled country by forming an independent probe committee with the involvement of the UNOHCHR so that adequate action can be taken against the guilty, in this case, not only those who ordered the firing but also those who sanctioned it – the Home Minister and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, who have deliberately gone against the spirit of the Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law, defying the voice and conscience of the world community – in an international court.

With regards,

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Mr.Ram Kumar Basnet Mr.Deepak Adhikari Mr.Kishor Sing Rathor Mr.Bikrant Subedi

Vice-President Acting President President Co-ordinator

ANNFSU, C.C. NSU, C.C. NSU, C.C. NPSF, C.C.

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Mr.Saroj Raj Gosai Mr.Bhim Rai Mr.Prakas Pokhrel Mr.Rameswor Yadav

Chairman Chairman Secretary General Member

NRSU, C.C ANNFSU, C.C. ANNFSU (Unified), C.C NSF, C.C