Human rights activists, lawyers, civil society members and politicians on Monday jointly appealed to the Malaysian king to pardon Hari Bahadur Ghale, who is sentenced to death in Malaysia, and urged the Nepal government to save him. Ghale, who hails from Basunchet, Nuwakot, was arrested on May 3, 2003 on the charge of peddling drug.

The Supreme Court in Kuala Lumpur announced death sentence for Ghale on September 25. Insec Chairman Subodh Raj Pyakurel urged the government to request the Malaysian government to pardon Ghale first. “As the chairman of Insec and Forum Asia, I will correspond in order to save Ghale. I hope his life will be spared,” said Pyakurel.

Prem Bahadur Khadka, chairman of the Nepal Bar Association, said that the government should request the Malaysian king to pardon Ghale. “At a time when the Supreme Court has already confirmed the death penalty given by the Appellate Court, the only option is to request the king himself,” said Khadka. “I believe the Malaysian king will pardon Ghale.”

Human rights activist Sudip Pathak claimed that Ghale could not prove his innocence due to the language barrier. Nepali Congress Nuwakot district President Jagadishwor Narshing KC said they have submitted a written request to the President and the prime minister to save Ghale. “The prime minister promised us to write to his Malaysian counterpart requesting him to grant Ghale a pardon,” said KC.

Dhan Bahadur Ghale, grandfather of Hari Bahadur, said his grandson was used by others. “There is no one to look after me and his only daughter. I beseech everyone to help save my grandson,” he said. NC Nuwakot prez said they have pleaded in writing to the President and the prime minister to save Ghale.

Published on: 9 October 2012 | The Kathmandu Post