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Thanking letter from Bishnu Pukar ShresthaUrgent Action Appel of 12 October 1999: Human Rights Violations of Teachers in Nepal

Dear Fred,

It would be a happy news to you that your effort has got success and I have come out from the dark room of terror on July/6/00. You know I was kidnapped and imprisoned for eleven months. I was kept alone in a cell and during the whole period I could not see any civilian except the police personals. I shall write you the details in my next letter.

I would like to thank you for the continuous effort you did for my release and for the safety of my life. Without you, EI and Amnesty Iinternational I could not have come out and get in touch with you. I have to write this letter very soon after my release but I was released in such a situation that I became unable to write you. It is because I was released after nineteen hours of my fathers death. It was a very sorrowfull situation that I had to encounter.

Anyway I am out and it is because of you, EI, the staff, the leaders of EI and member organisation who vehemently urged for my release appealing, protesting and creating pressure to the government of Nepal.

Still I am not feeling safe and free from the government I had had to take precautions for the free movement. In any case if something bad situation occured to me I am hopeful you will always help me.

Please convey my regards to Mary Hatwood the President and words of thanks to all leaders, staff and member organisations of EI on behalf of me.

Wishing and promising to keep in touch, I remain.

Yours,

B.P Shrestha
Ex Gen.Secretary NNTA Nepal

12 October 1999

Dear Colleagues,

Education International has written to the Prime Minister of Nepal indicating deep concern about the disappearance of Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, former Adviser and Ex-General Secretary of our affiliate, the Nepal National Teachers' Association (NNTA). During day time on 2nd September 1999, Mr. Shrestha was kidnapped by some unknown persons while he was on his way to visit his relatives at Satungal Kathmandu in the capital city.

We have also condemned in the strongest terms the murders of at least 30 members of the Nepal Teachers' Association (NTA) and NNTA in the last three months. In various districts, a number of teachers have been attacked and injured by unknown persons and by the police; others have been imprisoned and about 40 of them are falsely accused of belonging to a Maoist movement. Such violations of human rights are totally unconscionable, and it should be requested that the Government of Nepal restore the state of law and ensure the safety of all Nepali citizens.

We ask you to send letters to the Prime Minister of Nepal (directly and/or via the Embassy of Nepal in your country), urging him to:

• ensure that the competent authorities are carrying out an exhaustive investigation into the kidnapping of Mr. Shrestha, so as to find his whereabouts, release him and bring his abductors to justice;
• take the appropriate measures for the murders of teachers to be fully investigated and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
• make provisions for financial compensation to be granted to the families of murdered teachers;
• release those teachers who have arbitrarily been imprisoned;
• ensure the safety of all teachers and their families;
• inform you about the outcome of the investigations into these issues.

The address of the Prime Minister is:

Rt. Hon. Prime Minister
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai
The Office of the Prime Minister
The Singh Durbar Secretariate
Kathmandu
NEPAL

Fax: 977-1-227 286
Tel:  977-1-227 955/228 555

Please send copies of your letters to EI.

Thank you very much for your solidarity with the Nepali teachers.
 

Yours sincerely,

Fred van Leeuwen
General Secretary
Education International
http://www.ei-ie.org/main/english/index.html