SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES LIFTING OF STATE OF EMERGENCY IN NEPAL, URGES RELEASE OF ALL DETAINED UNDER EMERGENCY PROVISIONS

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES LIFTING OF STATE OF EMERGENCY IN NEPAL,

URGES RELEASE OF ALL DETAINED UNDER EMERGENCY PROVISIONS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the Government of Nepal’s decision to lift the state of emergency over the weekend and to free in the last few weeks several political party leaders and activists.  These were measures the Secretary-General had urged during his meeting with King Gyanendra in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 21 April 2005.

While welcoming these initial positive steps, the Secretary-General remains concerned about the human rights situation in Nepal.  He urges the release of all those still detained under the emergency provisions, as well as the early restoration of civil liberties and multi-party democracy in Nepal.  He remains ready to assist in any manner that would lead to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nepal.

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