Young activists join forces for Rai's cause

KATHMANDU, DEC 27 - An amalgam of young activists has launched a public campaign demanding justice for a woman who was robbed and allegedly raped by a government employee.  

Sita Rai , a 21-year old migrant worker , was robbed byimmigration officials upon her arrival from Saudi Arabia at the Tribhuvan International Airport and subsequently "raped" by a police constable.

The activists have launched campaign in the social media twitter and facebook and put up a petition online which internet users can download, fill out and send it to the prime minister's mail. Those without internet access can find a copy of the printed petition at Southgate of Singh Darbar on Friday. The filled out petitions will be handed over to the prime minister later on the day.

"We urge your office and the Home Ministry to immediately investigate this case and set an example of how violence against women will not be tolerated in Nepal," reads the petition.

"We urge you to use the vast resources at your disposal to call on every government and non-governmental body working on women's rights issues to find out what happened to Sita Nepali at TIA and pursue justice as required, to the full extent of the law," the petition has appealed to the public.

It further reads " Sita Rai has to get justice. By helping deliver that justice, you can also help deliver hope of a better Nepal to millions of Nepali women. To fail Sita Nepali would be to fail the nation."

The news of Sita's alleged robbery and rape came to light only when she lodged a complaint with the Home Ministry againstimmigration officials Ram Prasad Koirala, Somnath Khanal, Tika Pokharel Khanal and police constable Prasuram Basnet.

Coming across this illiterate migrant worker carrying someone else's passport, the officials had taken her to the immigration office in Kalikasthan. There, during interrogations, the officials robbed her of the cash. Basnet then volunteered to take her to a buspark where he allegedly raped her at the Solukhumbu Guest House. A medical test has revealed that Rai is pregnant.

The ministry suspended Koirala, Khanal and Pokharel after a joint-secretary-led probe panel found the officials guilty on Monday. A Kathmandu District Court bench remanded constable Basnet to police custody.

Although Basnet and Khanal are in the police costudy. Pokharel and Koirala are still absconding.

Posted on: 2012-12-27 04:00