Nepal gov't arrests 5 ministers, suspends heads of forces
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, May 13, IRNA
Nepal-Govt-Ministers
The Nepalese government has arrested five ministers of King Gyanendra's regime and suspended the heads of three security forces on charges of use of excessive force and human rights violations in suppressing the pro-democracy movement in the Himalayan kingdom.
The government, however, took no immediate decision on a recommendation by a high-level probe panel to suspend Nepal Army chief Pyarjung Thapa as the matter would be taken up by the National Security Council, a Doordarshan report said here.
The crackdown against the former ministers and top security officials came hours after Maoists announced that their top leader, Prachanda, would personally lead talks with the new government to end the decade-old insurgency in the kingdom.
Former ministers Kamal Thapa (Home), Rameshnath Pandey (Foreign Affairs), Shrish Shumsher Rana (Communication), Tanka Dhakal (Local Development) and Nikshya Shumsher Rana were arrested after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister G P Koirala, a source in the cabinet said.
They were arrested under Public Security Act and detained for 90 days at the Nepal Police Training Centre at Maharajgunj and Praharai Paharagan, the source said.
The cabinet also decided to suspend Armed Police Force chief Sahabir Thapa, Nepal Police chief Shyam Bhakta Thapa and National Investigation Department (government intelligence) chief Deviram Sharma following a recommendation by a high-level commission probing the use of force during nearly three weeks of pro-democracy activities last month.
2160/2321/1414
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
