MARCH 23
Q-NOTES
Global
Nepal's 'sexual cleansing' drive continues
New arrests of transgender people,
HIV workers
by S. Long
NEPAL — 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 abat
ed, Human Rights Watch (HRW)
announced.
HRW has learned that on the night of
March 14, the eve of the Holi festival (fes
tival 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-govern
mental 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. HRW understands
that as of March 16, they had 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 HRW. “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 doc
umented police abuse of transgender peo
ple, also known as hijras. in other recent
incidents, on Jan. 3, three metis walking in
the Thamel district were reportedly severe
ly 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
Dec. 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 punish
ment for wearing women’s clothes. She
was released the next day.
Previously in Aug. 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 sum
moned 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 deten
tion or abuses- sustained.
“Arbitrary arrest, police abuse, and dis
crimination against any group send a mes
sage that all Nepalis’ basic rights are at the
government’s mercy,” said Long. “By jail
ing outreach workers campaigning against
the spread of HIV/AIDS, the police threat
en public health as well as civil liberties.”
Log Cabin national board
member appointed to Bush's
HIV/AIDS Council
by James Dozier
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President
George W. Bush has appointed Log Cabin
National Board Member Troy Benavidez to
the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV
and AIDS (PACHA).
“Log Cabin congratulates Tfoy on this
well deserved appointment,” said Log
Cabin President Patrick Guerriero. “Tfoy
will be a valuable member of PACHA. His
voice as a Latino gay conservative will pro
vide important guidance for the Council.”
“I’m honored to be appointed to
PACHA,” said Benavidez. “Much work still
must be done to get this epidemic under
control and to provide assistance for the
hundreds of thousands of Americans living
with HlV/AlDS. I’m proud to be a part of
this effort and I thank the president for
selecting me to serve on the Council.”
Benavidez has valuable experience that
makes him uniquely qualified to serve on
the Council. He has served on the boards
of both New Mexico AIDS Services and the
Samaritan Counseling Center, a faith-
based counseling center in New Mexico, in
addition, he brings to PACHA 13 years of
experience working in government at the
state and federal level.
Benavidez currently serves as director
of national and state alliances for
AstraZeneca, the international pharmaceu
tical company based in Wilmington, Del. In
that position, he helps coordinate outreach
on Latino health issues for the company. He
is on the Corporate Advisory Board for the
National Hispanic Medical Association and
the National Hispanic Council on Aging. He
also works with the National Alliance for
Hispanic Health. For the last four years, he
served as manager of state governmental
affairs for AstraZeneca in New Mexico and
other western States. Benavidez has served
on Log Cabin’s National Board since 2003.
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