Police, my friend

The attack on citizens' peaceful protests is unacceptable in a democracy.

First things first. The Oli administration cannot derogate from its primary obligation to respect and protect the constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens to assemble peacefully without arms. Article 17 (2) (b) of Nepal’s constitution guarantees that every citizen has the freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms. Nepal is also party to the 1996 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 21 of which governs the right of peaceful assembly. It is, therefore, the government’s duty to comply with and implement these national and international legal frameworks envisioned to ensure civil and political freedom in accordance with the inalienable rights of citizens.