Govt ban on rallies against constitutional rights: NHRC

Kathmandu, Jan 19-The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday said the recent government ban on public gatherings and rallies is against the freedom ensured by the international treaty on political rights as well as the constitution of the Kingdom.

“The indefinite ban imposed by His Majesty’s Government on assemblies, demonstrations and sit-in programs in the urban areas of Kathmandu and Lalitpur has hampered the rights granted by the constitution of the Kingdom and the International General Treaty on Political Rights of which Nepal is a signatory,” a press statement issued by the NHRC said.

The rights watchdog added that it stands firmly in favour of the unrestricted use of rights ensured by the international general treaty and the constitution of the Kingdom for peaceful demonstrations and assemblies.

Saying that peaceful programs should never promote violence, the NHRC further stated that it would be monitoring the rights related to peaceful public assembly.

The NHRC’s reaction came three days after the government announced ban on public gathering and rallies in the capital citing possibility of Maoist infiltration in a mass meeting planned by the seven parties on coming Friday in the capital.

The commission also mentioned that it has been watching the new situation after the breakdown of the Maoist unilateral ceasefire.