Purna Sen Quotations

Ordinary people are suffering terrible losses every day as the fighting grinds on. Meanwhile, women in particular are often the unrecognized victims in this conflict and have limited access to protection and justice.

The government of Nepal should be aware the international community is gravely concerned with developments this week and should take immediate steps to remedy the serious human rights violations that have taken place.

What is urgently needed now is some consistent demonstration by the Maoist leadership and cadres across the country that they are fully committed to respecting their obligations under international humanitarian law.

These arrests, combined with the heightened restrictions on civil and political rights over the past week, highlight the government's continuing disregard for human rights.

Rather than justifying the use of excessive force, the government should be ensuring that the police and army act within the law to protect people's lives.

Targeting leaders of the peaceful political opposition is not only wrong, it is dangerous. Squeezing the space for legitimate political activity heightens the risk of violent confrontation and human rights abuses.