For now the Indian government has only charged Comrade Gaurav with possession of illegal papers, but in countries like India this charge is normally dealt with as a minor matter and processed quickly. The fact that they are still holding Comrade Gaurav weeks later, with moves for extradition in the works, shows that what they are up to has nothing to do with “justice” and e verything to do with political suppression. For much of the duration of the People’s War, the Royal Nepal army has engaged in a US-counterinsurgency-style “dirty war”, including by “disappearing” hundreds of revolutionaries. The World People’s Resistance Movement urgently calls on progressive people around the world to defeat the attempt to turn this revolutionary leader over to the hands of his would-be executioners. To try to justify this crime, the Indian authorities are loudly repeating US government slanders of the People’s War and its leaders as “terrorist”. But the world’s press, even establishment media like the BBC, France’s Le Monde, the New York Times and India Today, have had no choice but to acknowledge that millions of Nepalese have rallied to the side of the popular insurgency in Nepal. At the core of this is the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), of which Comrade Gaurav is a leader. In no way can this struggle for liberation be called “terrorist”. After seven years of revolutionary struggle, the Nepalese people, among the poorest of the world’s poor, now hold power in large parts of the countryside. They are seizing the land, building schools, organizing people’s clinics and beginning to chart their own destiny. One crucial factor in this transformation has been the emergence of a core of leaders who are determined to see the fight through to complete liberation – and one of these precious leaders is Comrade Gaurav.

The Nepalese armed forces have met the popular upsurge with vicious bloody repression. Amnesty International and many other human rights organizations have documented the campaign of torture, “disappearances” and the many people “killed while trying to escape” conducted by the US and Indian-backed Royal Nepal Army. A key part of any such campaign of suppression has always been targeting the leaders of the people’s struggle. The World People’s Resistance Movement calls on progressive people around the world to struggle to defeat the plans to extradite Comrade Gaurav to Nepal, and to demand his freedom. Act now, as tomorrow could be too late!

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To the Prime Minister of India

I understand that Chandra Prakash Gajurel, a Nepalese revolutionary leader, has been arrested by your government for possession of illegal identity papers. I further understand that the Nepalese government has announced it is seeking his extradition. Your actions in continuing to hold Mr Gajurel for weeks on a matter that is usually resolved in days raises the spectre that you are pursuing a political agenda against him and are planning to accept the Nepalese government’s demand.

In view of the many internationally recognised cases of human rights violations perpetrated by the Nepalese authorities, I cannot help but fear for the life of Chandra Gajurel in these circumstances. I am, therefore, requesting that the Indian government release him, and I hold you responsible for any harm that may come to him. Finally, you should be aware that many people like me are carefully watching the way the Indian government deals with this affair.

Name: Address: Signature:





The Prime Minister's Office, South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, India -110 011.
Telephone: (91) (11) 3012312. Fax: (91) (11) 3019545 / 3016857.
To send e-mail go to the web address:  http://pmindia.nic.in/pmo.htm and follow the instructions.

For further information, see : www.wprm.org (or contact:  wprm_britain@yahoo.co.uk)



Information for organisers:

Please use the legal name Chandra Prakash Gajurel (and not “Comrade Gaurav”) in any statements demanding a halt to the
extradition and his release. They can be sent to the following (note that the country code for India is 91 and that you do not dial the initial 0 in a city code when composing international phone numbers; for instance, drop the 0 in the Delhi code of 011 and dial only 11):



Ministry of Law & Justice, 4th Floor, A-Wing, Shastri Bhavan New Delhi, India - 110 001.
Phone: (011) 23387557, 23384777, 23384617 / Fax : (011) 23384241, 23387259, 23382733



The Prime Minister's Office, South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, India -110 011.
Telephone: (011) 3012312. Fax: (011) 3019545 / 3016857.
To send e-mail go to the web address:  http://pmindia.nic.in/pmo.htm and follow the instructions.



Or to any Indian Mission abroad. A file containing a complete list attached (as a zip file, since it is 500 KB), but if you have trouble reading it please see the web site:  http://meaindia.nic.in/



Protest letters could point out that the India-Nepal extradition treaty excludes the handing over of political detainees and that the way the Indian authorities have singled out Chandra Prakash Gajurel amounts to illegal political repression. Copies should be sent to Amnesty International’s (marked attention of Nepal section) and other relevant human rights groups and progressive organisations, as well as the WPRM, to build public opinion.

Spread the word in every way possible. Post these letters, the WPRM statement and other information on Web sites, discussion forums, etc.

Organise lawyers, legal professionals, well-known progressive political figures and intellectuals and others, to send delegations to local Indian embassies to press for these demands.

Go to progressive and professional organisations and unions and community groups, including from the Nepalese and Indian communities abroad, and ask them to express support and take action.

It is essential to act quickly as the case is scheduled to be heard on Sept 18.