Nepalese police, military and rebels practise torture says UN expert

[struggle4progress]

16 September 2005 – After speaking with Nepalese Government and military officials, current and former detainees and after examining forensic evidence, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights expert on torture has concluded the police, armed police and the Royal Nepalese Army use torture for such purposes as extracting confessions and obtaining intelligence.

At the end of a 10 to 16 September visit to Nepal, at the invitation of the Government, the Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, said today he received shocking evidence that the Maoist insurgents, who recently declared a ceasefire that he welcomed, also carried out torture and mutilations to extort money, punish non-cooperation and intimidate others. <snip>

He said the need for the Government to send a clear and unambiguous message against torture and ill-treatment was made clear when he received disturbingly frank admissions by senior police and military officials that torture was acceptable in some instances and was systematically practised.

Methods of torture that he came across included beatings with bamboo poles and plastic pipes, kicking with boots, electric shock to the ears, rolling rods over the thighs, jumping on thighs and legs, maintenance of stress positions, being bound to a pole and hanged upside and beaten, especially on the soles of the feet, and prolonged periods of being blindfolded and handcuffed. <snip>

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15843&Cr=nepal&Cr1=

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. No civilized nation would resort to torture for any reason.

I say I say civilized that is.