HR groups urge UN forum to act against Nepali violations

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists said in a joint statement that the release of some political prisoners in Nepal must not be taken as a sign of durable improvement.

"We see no sign that the rule of law is being restored," said Nicholas Howen, secretary general of the ICJ.

"The appalling violence against civilians carried out by the Maoists and security forces continues and the democratic parties, human rights organisation and the media are still intimidated and controlled under the state of emergency," he added.

Five Nepalese political parties said this week they were planning pro-democracy rallies Friday to protest against King Gyanendra's seizure of power.

Howen told journalists that previous protest rallies had been suppressed.

King Gyanendra sacked the government and declared emergency rule on February 1, saying it was necessary to tackle a Maoist insurgency that has killed more than 11,000 people since 1996.

Switzerland has lined up a draft resolution at the UN Human Rights Commission, urging the restoration of multi-party democracy and a halt to abuse by all sides.

It would also allow UN monitors to be sent to Nepal and appoint an investigator to keep the country under outside scrutiny.

The proposal has the overt backing of the European Union. But human rights groups fear it could be rejected when it is put to a vote in the 53 member assembly next week.

Nepalese activists attending the UN meeting in Geneva urged more support from the international community.

"The international community should really think hard about the suppression of peaceful demonstrations in Nepal," said Arjun Karki, head of the NGO (non-governm-ental organisation) Federation of Nepal.

Several political leaders, including a former prime minister, have been released in the past month after being arrested along with hundreds more, while disappearances, beatings and cases of torture have been reported.

Human rights groups regard action on Nepal as a test of the much criticised UN forum's credibility.

On Thursday UN Secretary General Kofi Annan reiterated that the Commission's wider failure to confront abuse was undermining the United Nations as a whole.

Peace talks have failed to get off the ground and the king seems determined to use the poorly equipped army to crush the rebels even though defence experts say the it faces a protracted guerrilla war because of the country's mountainous terrain.

The king, himself, is facing international pressure to restore democracy.

India -- Nepal's giant neighbour -- and Britain have suspended arms aid and other nations are stepping up the pressure.

"Democracy cannot be safeguarded by excluding legitimate democratic forces from the decision-making process," said Susan Ulbaek, a Danish foreign ministry official who is on a visit to Kathmandu.