Nepali royal ministers not allowed to go abroad

The Nepali government has decided to bar ministers of the royal government led by King Gyanendra from going abroad, The Himalayan Times newspaper reported on Monday.

According to the daily, the government has informed that it has "frozen" the passports of royalist ministers to stop their travel.

The government informed the Supreme Court on Sunday that their passports were "frozen" owing to their role in the repression of People's Movement in April, 2006.

The government submitted its position in response to the apex court's order for explanation regarding the case filed by former minister Roop Jyoti.

Jyoti, who was Minister of State for Finance during royal regime, had filed a writ petition at the apex court saying that his fundamental right has been violated as he was forced to return from the airport as authorities did not allow him to travel abroad.

In a written reply, the Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet, Madhav Paudel, said the decision had been taken as the former ministers have been implicated in the report prepared by the Rayamajhi Commission headed by former judge of Supreme Court Krishna Jung Rayamajhi that probed suppression of the people's movement.

"Jyoti's name figures in the fact- finding Rayamajhi Commission report and this is the reason why the government barred him from leaving the country," the reply said.

It added that until and unless the report is fully implemented and made public, and until the ministers prove their innocence, they will not be allowed to leave the country.

The government, however, claimed that it does not mean to violate the rights of the persons implicated.

Source: Xinhua