Pokhara, 9 September | Following the tragic deaths of 19 people during protests against the social media ban in Kathmandu, embassies from seven countries have issued a joint statement. The embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America have called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and seek a peaceful resolution. The joint statement reaffirms their strong support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The statement reads, “Our governments reaffirm their strong support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.” This message underscores the importance of respecting these fundamental rights in a democratic nation. The embassies have urged all parties to find a peaceful solution to the current situation and to prevent it from deteriorating further. Furthermore, they have pressed the government to ensure the full protection of these fundamental rights for its citizens.
This joint statement clearly highlights the international community’s serious concern and alarm over the repression taking place in Nepal. It follows a similar appeal from the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, which also urged for the respect and protection of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Both statements put pressure on the Nepali government to be restrained, respect civil liberties, and move towards dialogue and a peaceful resolution instead of repression.
The incident, which resulted in the deaths of 19 young people and injuries to hundreds more, has negatively affected Nepal’s democratic image. This joint statement from the international community adds moral pressure on the Nepali government to be accountable and protect its citizens’ rights. It also expresses hope that such incidents will not be repeated in the future and that citizens’ fundamental rights will be respected. It is now imperative for Nepal to take these international voices seriously and take immediate, necessary steps to ensure the safety and rights of its citizens.
