Nepal: Information on the Samyukta Jana Morcha, the Rastriaya Prajatantra Party and the Jana Yudh since 1990

The following information is in addition to that found in Responses to Information Requests NPL26837.E of 16 May 1997 on the Rastriaya Prajantra Party (RPP), also referred to as the National Democratic Party, and NPL26835.E of 20 May 1997 on the United People's Front (UPF), which is also known as the Samyukta Jana Morcha (SJM) and which is the political wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (Maoist).

A 4 July 1997 Rising Nepal report states that the RPP formed a political coalition with the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party for the District Development Committee (DDC) election in Kathmandu. For information on how the RPP fared during the DDC elections in Kathmandu and in other Nepali districts, please consult the attached 21 July 1997 Kathmandu Post article.

Incidents of violence were reported during local council elections in a 27 May 1997 Kathmandu Post article. The same report states that members of the RPP, the NC and the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist and Leninist (CPN-UML) blamed each other for the breakout in violence (ibid.). In Biratnagar, for example, activists of the three parties clashed with one another, which forced the sub-metropolis to shut down its polling stations, and in Birganj, a thriving outpost near the Nepal-India border, the RPP was blamed for instigating violence in which 25 people were injured (ibid.). The same newspaper reported in a 14 May 1997 article that the NC alleged that the RPP prevented some of its members from filing their nomination papers in the Dhading District.  According to a 12 June 1997 Kathmandu Post report, the CPN-UML emerged as the winner of the local council elections, pushing aside the RPP. Please consult the attached documents for additional information on the RPP.

Country Reports 1994 states that eight members of the RPP were arrested for the killing of an NC worker in November 1995 during the general elections in Ilam District (1995, 1238).

A 14 May 1997 Amnesty International press release states that the CPN (Maoist), the armed wing of the United People's Front (UPF), engaged in hostage-taking and killings of political opponents during the run-up to local elections. The AI press release adds that targets of the CPN (Maoist) have been members of the NC and other political parties (ibid.). Amnesty International Report 1996 states that some of the 200 UPF supporters arrested in Rolpa District in November 1995 were mistreated or tortured while in police custody (1996, 234). Please consult the attached copy of the AI press release for additional information on its concerns in regard to the CPN (Maoist), including incidents  which incurred in the context of the "People's War," a campaign launched by CPN (Maoist) members in 1996.

Country Reports 1994 states that UPF members killed an NC worker in Rukum District during the general elections in September 1995 (1995, 1238). The same report also states that police officers killed two UPF members after they attempted to fire shots at police (ibid.).

Information on a group called Jana Yudh could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International. 14 May 1997. "Nepal: The Government and the Communist Party Must Fully Respect the Human Rights of Candidates and Voters." (AI Index: ASA 31/07/97). London: Amnesty International.

_____. 1996. Amnesty International Report 1996. London: Amnesty International.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

The Kathmandu Post [in English]. 21 July 1997. "UML Captures Most DDC Seats." (FBIS-NES-97-202/NEXIS)

_____. 12 June 1997. "Nepal: Article Views CPN-UML's Victory in Local Elections." (FBIS-NES-97-163)

_____. 27 May 1997. "Nepal: Polling Postponed in 273 Booths; Sporadic Violence Reported." (FBIS-NES-97-147/NEXIS)

_____. 15 May 1997. "Nepal: Nepali Congress Accuses UML of Acts of 'Savagery." (FBIS-NES-97-135/NEXIS)

The Rising Nepal [Kathmandu, in English]. 4 July 1997. "Nepal: DDC Polls Gaining Momentum." (FBIS-NES-97-185/NEXIS)

Attachments

Amnesty International. 14 May 1997. "Nepal: The Government and the Communist Party Must Fully Respect the Human Rights of Candidates and Voters." (AI Index: ASA 31/07/97). London: Amnesty International.

The Kathmandu Post [in English]. 21 July 1997. "UML Captures Most DDC Seats." (FBIS-NES-97-202/NEXIS)

_____. 12 June 1997. "Nepal: Article Views CPN-UML's Victory in Local Elections." (FBIS-NES-97-163)

_____. 27 May 1997. "Nepal: Polling Postponed in 273 Booths; Sporadic Violence Reported." (FBIS-NES-97-147/NEXIS)

_____. 15 May 1997. "Nepal: Nepali Congress Accuses UML of Acts of 'Savagery." (FBIS-NES-97-135/NEXIS)

The Rising Nepal [Kathmandu, in English]. 4 July 1997. "Nepal: DDC Polls Gaining Momentum." (FBIS-NES-97-185/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report. 1994-1997.

Amnesty International. June 1994. Nepal: Human Rights Safeguards.

     ______. June 1992. Nepal: A Summary of Human Rights Concerns.

     Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1993-1996.

DIRB Country File. "Nepal." 1992-1997.

Human Rights Watch World Report. 1996-1997.

     Political Handbook of the World 1997. 1997.

On-line search of news articles (NEXIS and World Wide Web).