KATHMANDU, July 20Amnesty International Nepal has expressed its serious concerns over the use of force by Nepal Police at the Karnali Academy of Health and Sciences (KAHS) in Jumla on Thursday to bring Dr Govinda KC to Kathmandu.Dr KC started a hunger-strike at the KAHS on June 30 demanding key reforms in the health sector including withdrawal of the Medical Education Bill from parliament.
Issuing a press statement Friday, the human rights organization stated that it was deeply saddening to see “the baton- wielding police forcefully enter the hospital premise manhandling medical professionals and general people, and use unwarranted force including tear gas, and allegedly a "live ammunition" seriously injuring a police constable, twenty medical doctors and others.”
40 injured in clash as Dr KC taken by force to Kathmandu
The organization has stated that the government is obligated to ensure and respect the right to freedom of expression and opinion of every individual under international human rights laws.
Amnesty International Nepal has urged the government to sufficiently ensure that the law-enforcement officials adhere to the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms, which requires at a minimum to ensure the necessity, proportionality, legality and accountability of any amount of force used in all circumstances."We also urge the Government of Nepal to resolve any outstanding issues with the opposition party and/or dissenting groups including Dr KC through a process of meaningful dialogue," the statement quoted Nirajan Thapaliya, director of Amnesty International Nepal, as saying.
