Document - Nepal: Fear for safety: B.G.C.

PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 31/008/2007

14 August 2007

UA 210/07 Fear for safety

NEPAL B.G.C., age 15 (f)

T
here are fears for the safety of a fifteen-year-old girl known for reasons of personal security as B.G.C., who was reportedly raped on 19 July 2007 at about 12 noon, by a soldier from the Nepal army and a civilian. The incident took place in Latikohili Village Development Committee (VDC)-1 in Surkhet District. While one of the alleged perpetrators, an army soldier, has been handed over to police by the army authority on 10 August, 2007, the other alleged civilian perpetrator has not yet been arrested and there are therefore fears that as B.G.C. attempts to seek justice she may be at risk of intimidation or attack.

B.G.C. was travelling back towards Ramghat VDC, Surkhet District, by a small bus from a relative’s house in Latikoili VDC on 19 July, when two men on the bus started talking to her about where she was going and introduced themselves; one said he was working in the Army, in the Midwestern Divisional Army Headquarters. The two men persuaded B.G.C. to join them for some food and she got off the bus withthem before reaching her intended destination. However instead of taking B.G.C. for some food the two men dragged her into some nearby jungle where both reportedly raped her before escaping on a bus which was leaving from nearby.

B.G.C. then met a nurse who took her to Maiti Nepal NGO who helped her get a medical check up at Bheri Zonal Hospital, Banke district, on 20 July. This medical report allegedly confirms that B.G.C. was raped. On 3 August she registered a First Information Report (FIR) at Surkhet District Police Office (DPO), against the two men with assistance of Advocacy Forum NGO. The DPO in Surkhet then reportedly sent a formal letter on 5 August to the Midwestern Divisional Army Headquarters in Surkhet District requesting that the accused Army officer be handed over to the police for investigation. The Army reportedly handed over the soldier to the police on Friday 10 August, however the accused civilian has not yet been arrested. B.G.C. is therefore fearful of further intimidation or attack by this man who is believed to live in Surkhet District and knows which village B.G.C. lives in.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

NGOs in Nepal have reported a number of cases of rape and violence against women by members of the security forces including police in the last year. In one incident in November 2006, a mother and daughter were reportedly raped in their own home by two members of the Armed Police Force from Ratakali Gan, Surkhet District, after they asked the women for alcohol which was not available. Despite filing an FIR at Surkhet DPO against both policemen, the two women were not provided with a medical check-up; both accused men have been released on bail and according to Advocacy Forum, are continuing to work in the police force. In another incident a mentally ill woman was reportedly raped by a policeman working at the Chhinchu Security Base Camp in Surkhet Disrtict in June 2006. Despite local villagers handing him over to local police he was later released and according to Advocacy Forum, no investigation was initiated. Amnesty International is taking up these cases with the Nepal government.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:

- expressing concern that members of the security forces have been implicated in cases of rape including the case of B.G.C. which reportedly took place in Latikohili Village Development Committee (VDC)-1 in Surkhet District on 19 July 2007;

-calling on the authorities to order prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into this attack and all other reports of rape by the Nepal security forces including the police, and bring all those responsible to justice;

- urging the authorities to take immediate and effective measures to guarantee the safety of B.G.C., according to her wishes.

APPEALS TO:

General Rookmangud Katawal

Chief of Army Staff

Army Headquarters

Kathmandu, Nepal

Fax: + 977 1 4 269624 (please keep trying)

Email: dprhq@hotmail.com

dprhq@gmail.com

Salutation: Dear General

Om Bikram Rana

Inspector General of Police

Police Headquarters

GPO Box 407

Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal

Fax: +977 1 4 415 593

+977 1 4 415 594

Salutation: Dear Inspector General

COPIES TO:

Ministry of Home Affairs

Minister: Mr. Krishna Prasad Sitaula

Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal

Fax: + 977 1 4211264

and to diplomatic representatives of Nepal accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 September 2007.