KATHMANDU, OCT 15 – Sedition accused Madhesi rights activist, CK Raut, was sent to judicial custody after he refused to post the bail amount for his release on Tuesday.

A full bench led by Special Court Justice Manohar Bhattarai had ordered police to release Raut on bail, but the defendant declined to pay the bail amount of Rs 50,000, said Natibabu Lamichhane, the court registrar.

The court ordered for Raut’s release after his statement was found different from what the local administration of Morang had mentioned in its charge sheet. “He [CK Raut] mentioned that he was never for separating Madhes from Nepal and that his campaign is for autonomous Madhes province,” said Lamichhane.

The court also refused to return Raut to Morang District Administration as demanded in the charge sheet.  Raut was arrested on September 14 from Morang and brought to Kathmandu following the Supreme Court’s order. Later, the Morang District Administration had filed a case of sedition against Raut on charge of instigating a campaign for a separate Madhes.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has appealed for a withdrawal of the sedition charge against Raut and release him unconditionally. The organisation has also requested the government to amend its practices to comply with international and domestic standards to protect freedom of expression.

The organisation also said that the police claim that Raut has written articles and books advocating Madhes secession does not prove that he encouraged the use of violence, or that his actions led to violence.

“Many Nepalis have recently struggled to break out of feudal structures and ensure democratic rights,” said Brad Adam, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of a good democracy. But the government is going after an activist expressing concerns about marginalised communities from the Tarai.”

Posted on: 2014-10-15 08:49