The
well-known Nepalese human rights activist
and senior member of the Global March
International Council, Gauri Pradhan,
was released from prison, after the
Supreme Court’s order on February
28 declared his detention illegal and
ordered the Nepalese establishment to
release him immediately.
Pradhan,
who is the President of the Child Workers
in Nepal (CWIN) and is also serving
as the Regional Coordinator, South Asia,
of the Global March Against Child Labour,
was illegally
detained at Tribhuwan International
Airport on February 17, 2005, on his
way back to Kathmandu after having participated
in official meetings in Europe. His
detention had been widely criticized
by human rights groups and civil society
organisations. The Global March partners
expressed their solidarity with Gauri
and wrote to Nepalese authorities for
immediate release of Gauri Pradhan.
Global
March staged a demonstration
against his arrest at New Delhi along
with Nepal Samaj.
Pradhan’s
release is not only a landmark judgment
made by the Nepalese Supreme Court during
the prevailing state of emergency in
the Himalayan Kingdom, but is also a
victory of the entire human rights community.
This will set a precedent for release
of others, who are still under detention.
Global March Chairperson Kailash Satyarthi
called Gauri Pradhan after his release
and reaffirmed solidarity with Pradhan.
The Global March is highly appreciative
of the effort of everyone who pressured
the Nepalese establishment into righting
the wrong.
Read
Gauri Pradhan's Letter
of Appreciation.
