Death of Mr Prem Prasad Sapkota

20 February 2006
OHCHR-Nepal is deeply disturbed at the death of Mr Prem Prasad Sapkota, the Deputy Regional Administrator of the Eastern Region, who died in the custody of the CPN (Maoist) in the area of Ranjani reportedly on the morning of Friday 17 February. The OHCHR-Nepal Biratnagar regional office has deployed a team to Dharan, to observe the handover of the body by Nepali NGO human rights workers to authorities.
OHCHR-Nepal understands that an autopsy will be carried out in Kathmandu in order to determine the cause of death, and will monitor the results of this autopsy. Further, OHCHR-Nepal calls on CPN (Maoist) to thoroughly investigate the death of Mr Prem Prasad Sapkota and to hold accountable any of its cadres responsible for the death, whether through action or inaction.
OHCHR-Nepal reiterates that the welfare of any detainee is the responsibility of those detaining them.
“This is the moment when the leadership of CPN (Maoist) must give clear and public instructions to its cadres to end all abductions of civilians, must release any other civilians still held after being abducted, and must ensure that those instructions are followed.” said Ian Martin, Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal.