Letter from HURON VP I got in my email... I am Bhupal Lamichhaney, Vice President of Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON), an organization based in Kathmandu that has worked for nearly two decades to assist the Nepalese people in their long struggle to establish and sustain freedom, democracy, and human rights at all levels of society. As a Nepali citizen and a human rights defender, I am very much ashamed and shaken by the actions of our king. On 4 October 2002, he sacked the democratically elected government and appointed his own. On 1 February 2005, he sacked his appointed government and moved to totalitarian rule. Always the king gives lip service to the people as being in support of democracy and human rights, but he has finally exposed himself as one who does not support his own words. This has been the case since he succeeded to the throne after his brother?s brutal murder in the Place massacre of June 2001. Nepal has been one of the top Human Rights abusing countries in the world since the Maoist insurgency began 10 years ago. The mass of innocent people, especially in rural areas, have suffered unspeakable rights abuse and atrocities in the wake of Maoist insurgency to take over the country. When the government, in the name of quelling the insurgency, finally mobilized the army, the affliction upon the mass of innocent people increased. Now these same innocent people, who do not have either military or political connection, are now suffering abuses from both sides of the warring factions. Atrocities like rape, kidnapping, murder, and ?disappearances? have become regular experiences for them. These people live in so much fear and intimidation they do not rep! ort their sufferings to Human Rights Associations working on their behalf. Many people are displaced, forced to flee to neighboring cities. The vast area of agricultural land once lush has become barren because of non-attendance by farmers. After his speech on 1 February, the King chose the path of capturing the state power by sacking the Prime Minister, imposing marshal law, and declaring the state of emergency. He has placed multi-party leaders in jail, cut off communication of Nepal to and from the outside world, and cut off basic human rights. People are forced to live in darkness regarding the situation, only hearing and watching state controlled Radio Nepal and Nepal TV. Nepal has be! en converted into a gulag. How people are living is unknown. I am trying to communicate with various people in America and abroad about Nepal's present political situation. The situation is so grave that Human Rights Organizations in Nepal, formerly threatened and persecuted by both sides of the armed conflict to document and report the vast number of disappearances and displacements, now find it impossible. There is such fear that the present situation will provide impunity as all kinds of freedoms are now banned. Because of the political development, the number of displaced Nepalese people have increased so much that the bordering towns of India are now crowded with these innocent people as well as multi party activists and Human Rights defenders. Human Rights defenders and political activists are not secure because of the threat of life coming from both sides of the conflict, the Maoist Guerrillas as well as the Royal Nepalese Army led by the King. Both forces are against democracy. Although this situation is very much criticized by many Nations, I feel that something substantial has to be done from the International Community so that the King must hear the loud and clear voices of the majority of democ! racy loving Nepalese people, who have yet to be represented by the international community. If the political environment further deteriorates, the geopolitical situation of Nepal can easily become a safe heaven to International Terrorists. This will definitely be threatening to freedom loving democracies of the world, especially India, Britain, and America. As a Human Rights defender, I have been very much involved in the on going peace process between the Government and the Maoist. I believe that there is no military solution to the conflict in Nepal as neither side wants to sustain democracy. Therefore, the democracy and peace loving innocent people of Nepal need to be rescued from this difficult situation. If rescue fails, freedom lost in Nepal will have negative impa! ct on the free world. Let us join hands in defending Liberty in this tiny Himalayan Kingdom. I feel grateful for people like you, who have empathy for the Nepalese people. You lend solidarity to our faint voices. May you bring the needed attention of the present Nepalese situation to the political leadership of your countries in this most dire time of our nation's history. At present, I am visiting the US and in close conntact with Breath of Peace International, a Washington state human rights service and training organization based in Vancouver. Your thoughts and concerns are welcome. With Best Regards, Bhupal Lamichhaney