It seems to me, though, that LBO-talk subscribers, queer or non-queer, had never exhibited any concern about the oppression of GLBT Nepalese at the hands of Gyanendra's Nepalese government* -- or oppression of any other group of Nepalese by Gyanendra's government for that matter.
I'd say that the Nepalese -- including GLBT Nepalese -- could have used LBO-talk subscribers' solidarity more when they were living under the emergency than they are now, when they are finally joining republican modernity like much of the rest of the world.
* <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3557794.stm> Last Updated: Thursday, 12 August, 2004, 09:56 GMT 10:56 UK Human Rights Watch Nepal gay plea
A New York-based human rights group has urged the Nepalese authorities immediately to release a group of gays and transsexuals arrested recently.
They were arrested for creating disturbances in public places in the capital, Kathmandu.
Human Rights Watch say that they have been held without charge.
It has accused the authorities of intimidating sexual minorities and has called for an investigation into allegations of violence against them.
Mistreated in custody
"Nepal's government must decide whether it wants to enforce homophobia or protect basic human rights," said Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Project at Human Rights Watch.
Thirty-nine gays and transgender people were on Monday arrested following complaints about sexual assaults against pedestrians during the night.
The police said the detainees were being charged under a public offence act.
Human Rights Watch said they were all members of the Blue Diamond Society (BDS), an organization that provides HIV-prevention services and campaigns for the rights of sexual minorities.
The BBC's Sushil Sharma in Kathmandu says that BDS members have complained that the detainees have been mistreated in custody, but the police have denied the allegations.
A petition seeking a ban on BDS, on grounds that Nepalese laws do not allow homosexual activities, is pending with the Supreme Court.
That has been strongly criticised by Human Rights Watch, which in July urged the government to respond to the threatened judicial ban by affirming the freedoms of association and expression.
'Punish the messenger'
"In trying to stifle the voices of sexual minorities, Nepal demonstrates its indifference to basic rights of expression and assembly," said Mr Long in a letter to the Nepalese authorities.
"In trying to silence those who document police abuse, the Nepalese government shows its determination to punish the messenger."
Human Rights Watch say that while there is no provision in Nepalese law that explicitly criminalizes homosexual conduct, the country's civil code punishes "any kind of unnatural sex" with up to one year in prison.
The group says that this provision has been used to justify arrests of men who have sex with men and transgender people.
"The Blue Diamond Society has faced harassment from the Nepalese government as they defend the rights of some of the most vulnerable members of society," said Mr Long.
There has been no comment from the government on the issue.
<http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/03/17/nepal13020.htm> Nepal: 'Sexual Cleansing' Drive Continues New Arrests of Transgender People, HIV Workers
(New York, March 18, 2006) – New arrests of metis (an indigenous term for transgender people) and HIV/AIDS outreach workers in Kathmandu show that a persistent pattern of police violence and abuse has not abated, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch has learned that on the night of March 14, the eve of the Holi festival (festival of colors) – a major Hindu religious holiday – police in the Thamel and Durbar Marg areas of Kathmandu rounded up 26 metis. According to the Blue Diamond Society, a Nepali non-governmental organization (NGO) working in the fields of sexual rights, sexual health and HIV prevention, they were taken to the Hanuman Dhoka central police station in Kathmandu. Five were later moved to Kalimati police station. Human Rights Watch understands that as of March 16, they have still not been permitted to speak to a lawyer. All have reportedly been charged with committing a "public nuisance." No further particulars of their alleged offence are known.
"This is the latest incident in a violent police campaign to 'cleanse' Kathmandu of those considered undesirable," said Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. "Police regularly assault and in some cases sexually abuse transgender people, all in the name of enforcing 'moral values.'"
Those arrested included two staff, two outreach workers, and two peer educators working for the Blue Diamond Society. The Blue Diamond Society has repeatedly documented police abuse of transgender people, also known as hijras. In other recent incidents, on January 3, three metis walking in the Thamel district were reportedly severely beaten by four uniformed policemen who shouted, "Metis! Kill them!" The police threatened that "these hijras pollute the society and must be cleaned out." On December 28, police arrested a meti, took her to the Shore Khutte police station, and forcibly stripped and mocked her while checking her genitals. They also allegedly threatened to cut her hair off as punishment for wearing women's clothes. She was released the next day.
Previously in August 2004, police had also rounded up 39 metis from gathering places in Kathmandu. They were held for almost two weeks in the Hanuman Dhoka police station. Journalists were allegedly summoned to videotape the detainees in their cell, and when one meti complained, three policemen reportedly beat her. Another was beaten when she demanded to use a toilet. The detainees said that police told them: "Acid should be put on the faces of the hijras: they don't deserve to live." The detainees were finally released amid mounting international pressure. The metis received no redress for their detention or abuses sustained.
"Arbitrary arrest, police abuse, and discrimination against any group send a message that all Nepalis' basic rights are at the government's mercy," said Long. "By jailing outreach workers campaigning against the spread of HIV/AIDS, the police threaten public health as well as civil liberties." -- Yoshie <http://montages.blogspot.com/> <http://mrzine.org> <http://monthlyreview.org/>