Nepal: Arbitrary Arrest of minors

                           Child Concern
                         Case NPL 010998.CC

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your urgent intervention 
regarding the following situation in Nepal.

Brief description of the situation :

The International Secretariat has just been informed by the Forum for the 
Protection of Human Rights (FOPHUR), member of the OMCT network, 
of the arbitrary arrest, on July 16th, 1998, of Lok Bahadur Rana (15 years 
old), Shankar Adhikari (16 years old), Tok Bahadur Lama (16 years 
old), Forsang Lama (16 years old), Maya Waiba (17 years old) and 
Ramita Lama.

According to the information received from the FOPHUR, Lok Bahadur 
Rana, Shankar Adhikari and Tok Bahadur Lama were wounded by the 
police before being arrested at the Durlung Lalitpur District. Forsang 
Lama, Maya Waiba and Ramita Lama were also arrested in the Durlung 
Lalitpur District on July 16th. It is believed that they are all being held in 
detention at the Lalitpur Police Station. 

According to the same information, all six of them have been charged 
under the State Offensive Act of 1990.

All six of them have reportedly been denied access to legal counsel and 
from receiving any visits which raises grave concerns about their 
physical and psychological integrity.

Actions requested :
Please write to the Nepalese authorities urging them to:

i.- guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Lok 
    Bahadur Rana, Shankar Adhikari, Tok Bahadur Lama, 
    Forsang Lama, Maya Waiba and Ramita Lama;

ii.-order their immediate release if they are still held in detention or, 
    in the event that they have been charged, ensure that their case 
    is tried before a competent court as well as their right to legal 
    counsel;

iii.-ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and 
    fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and 
    international standards.

Addresses:
Prime Minister Girija Koirala. Singh Darbar, Kathmandu Fax : + 977 1 
227286 Tel : +977 1 227955

The Minister for Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singh Darbar, 
Kathmandu, Nepal. Fax : + 977 1 227 187 Tel: +977 1 224737

Mr Moti Lal Bohra, Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, 
Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal. Fax: + 977 1 415 594 Tel :+977 1 411210

Minister of Law and Justice, Singh Darbar, Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, Naxal, Kathmandu, 
Nepal. Fax: + 977 1 415 594 Tel :+977 1 411210

Attorney General of Nepal, Office of Attorney General of Nepal, Singh 
Darbar, Kathmandu, Nepal. Fax: + 977 1 22 72 82 Tel :+977 1 227197

Geneva, 1 September 1998

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.