Prohibitory order in the capital justified: Govt.

A day after the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) sought clarification from the government regarding ban on peaceful demonstrations in the capital, a senior government official has clarified that the order has been enforced considering what he called �the grave situation� in the capital Valley.

The Office of the Council of Ministers claimed that the government had enforced prohibitory order in various parts of the Valley since Tuesday as per the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966.

Official news agency, Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), quoted, Secretary at the Prime Minister�s Office, Diwakar Panta, as saying that Nepal ratified the ICCPR in 1976 and the necessary measure taken by the government at present in adverse circumstance was in accordance with Article 21 of the ICCPR.

Article 21 of the ICCPR states that, the right of peaceful assembly shall be recognised. No restriction may be placed on the exercise of this right other those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interest of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedom of others.

"The decision made in a compulsive situation was as per the Constitution of Nepal and the international law," he said.

Secretary Panta, however, said that the Council of Ministers had not received any official information regarding the clarification sought by the UN OHCHR from the government, as reported by the newspapers.

Issuing a press statement on Tuesday the OHCHR in Nepal has expressed regret at the government's decision to impose ban on peaceful demonstrations in various parts of the capital and sought clarification from the government in this regard.

"OHCHR-Nepal regrets that the sweeping restrictions now imposed to ban all assemblies, processions and sit-ins in most of Kathmandu and Lalitpur represent an extreme limitation on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, which the High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the authorities to respect," the statement said.

The government on Monday imposed curfew in Kathmandu and Lalitpur and prohibited rallies and mass movement inside the Ring Road of the capital beginning Tuesday until further notice.

The government�s ban came days before the protest rally and mass meeting being organized by the seven party opposition alliance against the royal takeover on Friday. nepalnews.com pb Jan 19 06