Kathmandu: Three leaders supporting restoration of monarchy have been in custody ever since the pro-monarchy demonstrations of March 28. Police arrested Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Vice-chairman Rabindra Mishra, and another RPP leader Dhawal Shamsher Rana on March 28, the day pro-monarchy protests turned violent.
The remand of Mishra and Rana has been extended twice by the court. Nabaraj Subedi, who was the coordinator of the ‘Joint People’s Movement Committee for Monarchy Restoration,’ has been under house arrest since 28.
Mishra, Rana and Subedi have been campaigning for the movement to restore monarchy and Hindu state identity of Nepal.
Subedi has denied the role of pro-monarchist protesters in cases of vandalism and arson that took place in parts of Kathmandu on March 28. He has accused the government of unleashing police brutality on the protestors. Speaking to the BBC Nepali Service, Subedi denied the role of protestors in vandalism and violence during the protests and accused the government of persecuting those who hold different political beliefs.
Pro-monarchy leaders have been demanding an independent judicial commission to investigate the incidents of March 28, which the government has rejected, despite the fact that human rights organizations have called for judicial probe on March 28 incidents.
Two individuals—a journalist and a commoner—were killed on the day of protest.
On April 6, four human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Nepal, demanded fair and impartial investigation of the incidents and said charges of organized crime and treason on Mishra and Rana were unfair.
Human rights activist and academics have raised question on the intention of the government over pro-longed detention and house arrest of pro-monarchy leaders. On April 4, Charan Prasai, human rights activist, wrote after meeting Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shamsher Rana that they have been treated worse than during the days of autocracy and these peaceful demonstrators have been charged of treason.
Responding to the video interview of Nabaraj Subedi with the BBC Nepali Service, Bipin Adhikari, expert and academician wrote: “In Nepal, the government cannot arbitrarily place someone under house arrest unless there is a specific legal basis. Placing someone under house arrest would require either a specific law or a specific court order. There is none in the case of Nabaraj Subedi.”
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