Date : 05/2003

Country/Region : NEPAL

Title : Trekking humanitaire au Népal = Humanitarian trekking in Nepal

Duration : 00:02:25

Director : SCHAAD, Alexandre

Cameraman : SIDLER, Roland

Editor : unknown

Keyword : MOUNTAIN; AGRICULTURE; PLACE OF DETENTION; DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY; COMBATANT; INTERVIEW; DELEGATE

Person appearing :
LUETHI, Christine (delegate, ICRC)
ABBOU, Christophe (interprète)

Confidentiality level : public

Publication restrictions : publication without restrictions

Copyright : ICRC

Production company : ICRC

ICRC producer :
none

Description : Following the April peace talks, the government is freeing hundreds of security prisoners, in line with the Geneva Conventions. It is the International Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) job to check that prisoners are freed on schedule and returned safely to their homes. Around 2,000 detainees in around one hundred different locations – prisons, police stations and military facilities - have been registered. In Takukot province, central-western Nepal, ICRC Delegate Christine Luthi visits a prison in Gorkha to check on the freeing of prisoners and to negotiate with the goalers to maintain humane conditions. The next job is to check that each prisoner is indeed returned to his home. As 80% of the Nepalese live in rural areas, many in high mountain villages, the only way to reach them is by hours of foot slog up tiny mountain tracks. When Christine and her team set off from Kathmandu to check out the reported release of prisoners, they know they will be away for four days, sleeping rough and climbing around 3,000 metres of altitude. After a five hour climb, Christine reaches the village of Chaptok, and tracks down Kala Dhan Bhatha , a school teacher imprisoned by government authorities. In Kokhe village, they locate the family of another ex-prisoner. Nervous of strangers asking questions, his father reports him to be out in the fields but safe. In this remote mountain area, local people are regularly killed and wounded in crossfire. The ICRC team take the opportunity of talking to potential rebel sympathisers and emphasising the need to leave civilians out of the conflict. The ICRC also meets Nepalese Government forces to stress the need to protect civilians and detainees. In an interview in English and French, ICRC delegate, Christine Luthi, explains the importance of ICRC prison visits and the need for confidentiality – according to Christine, experience shows ''it's the best way to have the confidence of the authorities and to have their collaboration to improve things if it's needed.''

Original language : French; English

French title : Trekking humanitaire au Népal

English title : Humanitarian trekking in Nepal

Colour/B&W : colour

Original material/format : Betacam SP

Best material/format available : Betacam SP