(Revolutionary Communist Party of Nepal) and other parties in the context of the election campaign for the March 5 elections in Nepal
ICOR strongly protests against the ongoing arrests of leading comrades at the central and local levels of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Nepal; the Scientific Socialist Communist Party of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Majority) and other organizations of this alliance in the context of their election campaign activities.
The most recent arrests known to us were
– Comrade Soman Singh Tamang, deputy politburo of the RNCPs in Panauti;
– Narayan Neupane, member of the Central Committee
– Shyam Kunwar and David Pariyar of the Scientific Socialist Communist Party of Nepal, to name but a few.
These are serious indications that the elections are not free and fair and constitute comprehensive repression. Boycotting the elections is not a criminal offense, as is often cited as the reason for their arrest, but a democratic right of parties or individuals. They violate the freedom of expression and freedom of the press guaranteed in the Nepalese constitution.
We demand the unconditional and immediate release of all persons arrested by this alliance.
With their election boycott, the parties are protesting against all direct and indirect influence of India and, above all, the US on the elections and are standing up for Nepal’s sovereignty.
One actual interference in the elections is the delayed publication of the report on the background and those responsible for the targeted reactionary violent riots in Nepal in early September following widespread youth protests. It is the right of the Nepalese people to know who is behind these events before the elections.
For the immediate release of all those arrested.
Monika Gärtner-Engel, Chief Coordinator
